If Iraq were in the Gobi desert, it would be naive to think they would have
had the revenue stream needed to create an army and to actively pursue a
program of WMD development. That German minister is the one who is naive.
Here is another perspective on this weekends marches.
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=6183
And Saddam's comments on the marches.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,6002444%255E401,00
.html
Denys
-----Original Message-----
From: HP-3000 Systems Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
Richard Ali
Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2003 4:29 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: OT: Re: The peace marches
>Bill writes:
>...your question of "why now" I say again, the dynamics of our foreign
policy have shifted radically since 9/11. I would say that Bush ll's desire
to rid Saddam now is a race against time - ...
Granted the shift has happened. From being inward-looking and seemingly
isolationist to being at the forefront of shaping a new world order. This is
all very well and if conducted within the confines of the UN (flawed but the
only one we've got), with adherence to international law, with engagement of
genuine coalitions and respecting differences, then it would have my vote.
My country is on the verge of taking part in an aggression the reasons for
which do not stand up to argument, the evidence is non-existent or slim to
say the least, the stated motives rather suggest another agenda. Former
senior military leaders of our armed forces have expressed disquiet at the
ambiguity of the military mission, questioning what the plan is for now and
for a post-conflict Iraq, and how this will be received by other nations
worldwide. Across the political spectrum (that's the one in common parlance
with the Left at one end, the Right at the other) people with absolutely
different views are speaking with one voice against what is happening.
Notably, the biggest demonstrations at the weekend were in the countries
that have gone in wholly on the Bush approach.
All the talk in this debate about democracy and freedom, hard won over
centuries of struggle and conflict. Well if you never before knew what
democracy was, you sure saw it on Saturdays peace marches. They were freedom
and democracy in action and writ large, and a message was sent that we, the
people, will not be conned or spun into war lightly. As a German Minister
said in a televised debate here last week: "If Iraq was in the Gobi desert,
it would be naive to think we'd even be discussing them". We are not
convinced by our leader, we are suspicious of the reasons (which change by
the week over here) and see through puerile attempts to bully by labelling
and name-calling ("socialist", "appeasers", "weasels" etc). In fact these
tactics show that they are being disingenuous. There is plenty of unfinished
business and peoples desperate forfreedom from opression and persecution
(Liberia, Ivory Coast, Congo, Zimbabwe...).
I expect a hell of a lot more from the people I put into power.
Regards
Richard Ali
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