All nations have an inherent right to self-determination, even Saddam's Iraq. He's not the first brutal tyrant the world has seen, nor will he be the last.
But the United States does not have the right, either legal or moral, to dictate to another country who will rule there and who will not.
It took the Russians 70 years to throw off the Communist Yoke, and during that time, the USSR was both our gallant WWII ally and subsequent Cold War foe.
During this latter period, the Soviet Union posed an immensely greater threat to the security of the United States than does Iraq today, but somehow we reached an uneasy stalemate with the Soviets in what Nikita Krushchev termed "peaceful co-existence," an era which began with the death of brutal commie dictator Josef Stalin.
Saddam will not live forever either.
In the meanwhile, we need the oil, so why not make a deal? It might be somewhat hyprocritical, but at least a lot of innocent people will not die, and Americans will be free to cruise in their SUV's, chat on their cel phones, and munch on their Big Macs in peace.
Finally, I would just note that among the actions the United States might take which would encourage further terrorism, nothing works like war.
That's been the Israeli experience vis-a-vis the Palestinians, and thousands of innocents have suffered on both sides.
Violence begets violence - it's just that profound.
sp
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A profound truth
The whole thread (47 posts)
- Bush: Iraq Inspections 'Not Encouraging'
- The view from Planet Dubya
- Through the looking glass
- Re: The view from Planet Dubya
- Re: The view
- Dating Saddam.
- The view from Planet Dubya