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March 20, 2003
Numb?
I'm not sure it's actually sunk in for me yet. I'm sure most of you already know that last night the United States performed a first "surgical strike" on Baghad. From what I can gather, U.S. Intelligence spotted a bunker that they believed was housing severel top Iraqi military officials. If they're right, this whole war might be over already.
I seriously doubt they got Saddam, partly because he appeared on Iraqi television a few hours later (although it could've been taped previously or faked), and partly because if we would've spotted Saddam I doubt we would've killed him with cruise missiles. We have enough special operatives in the country that if we knew where he was we could storm the building and take him out. The only reason our military would start to fire missiles is if they wanted to take out key command bases or similar structures.
The biggest thing I'm worried about is that Bush has completely disregarded the U.N. on this issue. I know a lot of people are anxious to get rid of the U.N. entirely, and maybe this is the only way to get things done, but I can't help but wonder how this will effect global politics. I just hope when the dust settles the rest of the world won't look at us as the bad guys.
Other than that one little concern, I'm all for what is going on over there. Saddam has played with those people way too long. He needs out, and I truly believe this is the only way. We can't just keep sitting around on our thumbs waiting for him to disarm while he's in there slaughtering his own people. We have the legal and moral responsibility to remove him from power. He has violated the terms of his earlier agreement at the end of the Gulf War. That agreement plainly states the penalties for violating those terms, and the U.N. just wants to continue playing nice.
Anyway, enough of my rambling. Let me know what you think.
Posted by Joey at March 20, 2003 11:35 AM
Comments
Iraq's Non-compliance
I found a news story from Friday, March 13, 1992. It's located here.
If you read this story, you will see what it is President Bush has been trying to say; Saddam Hussein has been violating the Persian Gulf War cease-fire agreement and subsequent UN Security Council Resolution 687 for over 10 years!
This article was written almost exactly one year after the last war ended, and it shows Mr. Hussein already breaking his promises to the UN. It also shows the UN debating about what to do back then.
The article shows a Mr. Hans Blix, then "director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency," who "refused to set deadlines for Iraqi compliance with the provisions of Resolution 687, but said that the next two months should provide a fair test of whether Iraq is cooperating."
Well, the next two months have come and gone. Actually, so have the next 11 years! And Mr. Blix, now the head of the UN weapons inspectors, is still saying, "give us two more months!"
My point is that we ended the first war, which was fully UN supported, with the understanding that Iraq would follow certain guidelines. Time and time again they have not. In my mind, that means the war is reopened, and Iraq reopened it.
I'm with you, Joey. I support what's going on, and I hope the rest of the world figures it out. If they don't, however, I'm willing to have the faith that the Lord knows us and our intentions. He's in charge, and things will work out for the best, no matter what other nations think.
Comparison: Captain Moroni
The whole thing reminds me of Captain Moroni's war with Zarahemnah in Alma 43-44.
The Lamanites never actually attacked the Nephites; they came close to two Nephite cities, though, and Moroni thought the threat of their attack was enough to warrant a Nephite "pre-emptive strike."
When the Nephites had surrounded the Lamanites, they attacked, and frightened the enemy with their superior weapons and protective gear.
When Captain Moroni saw their fear, he told them they could go free if they would lay down their weapons of war and promise to keep the peace (or show that they were no longer a threat). Several did lay down their weapons, and Captain Moroni let them go free.
Zarahemnah, however, only made a show of it all. He laid down his weapons, but would not promise to keep the peace. He would not abide by the terms. Moroni handed back his weapons and declared that he could not go back on his words.
Even though the surrounded and disarmed Lamanites posed no immediate threat to the Nephites, Moroni declared that he would end the war. He would fight until the Lamanites posed no future threat, even if it meant destroying them completely.
All we ask is that Mr. Hussein and his people lay down their weapons of war, their weapons of mass destruction, and abide by their promises to keep the peace. If they would do that, we would leave them alone. They won't do that, however, and they continue to pose a threat to our peace, our freedom, our religion, our families, and our way of life. Therefore, we fight.
Posted by: Steve at March 20, 2003 05:46 AM