« Infoporn | Main | Flickr Fun »

January 18, 2005

No WMD Changes Nothing

Iraq didn’t have WMD. Now it is official and everybody knows. So this seems like as good at time as any to make a point I haven’t heard anyone articulate in the last 3 years.

We took a perceived risk to innocent civilians in the United States and weighed it against the certain death of innocent civilians in Iraq. Then we decided that we preferred the certain death of innocent civilians in Iraq. As it turns out, there were around 100,000 innocent civilians randomly killed. Half of the population of Iraq is under the age of 14.

Preemptive attack is not wrong when it’s a mistake. Preemptive attack is wrong because it might be a mistake. It is always wrong. Morally wrong.

I was raised to believe that Americans are gallant and noble people. And our actions, the sacrifices of my grandparents, during and after WWII were proof. There is nothing gallant or noble about trading the fear of harm to one person for the certain death and injury of another.

In writing this I thought to look up a letter that I sent in 2003. I haven’t changed my mind since then.

March 16, 2003

President Bush,

I am writing to express my opposition to waging war against Iraq.

I base my opposition on these facts.

1. Iraq has not attacked the United States.
2. Iraq has not attacked any other nation.
3. An attack on Iraq would kill people.

I have heard these reasons for war

1. Iraq might attack the U.S.A. or another nation.
2. We are tired of waiting for Iraq to comply with UN resolutions.

Fear cannot justify war. Impatience cannot justify war. I believe war is only justified to stop direct, actual, violent, military attack on a nation or a people. This is simply not happening.

I believe that an attack on Iraq will spoil our relations with people and nations around the world for generations. I do not believe that this war will make the world safer for Americans or anyone else.

Posted by dme at January 18, 2005 09:17 PM

Comments

Beautiful and powerful post. Thanks.

Posted by: christiane at January 19, 2005 09:01 AM

Post a comment

Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)


Remember me?