In recent months, President George Bush has pushed for a war against the country of Iraq because Iraq has been unwilling to cooperate with UN weapons inspectors. While I agree that Iraq should comply with these inspections, I also strongly oppose threatening war to force them to do so.
A war with Iraq could be a boon to a currently weak economy, since past wars have been good for our country’s economic success. World War I spurred the roaring 20s, and World War II launched the economic boom of the 50s. The Vietnam War fueled the strong economy in the 60s, and Desert Storm created a base for the strong American economy during the Clinton years. But what would be the cost of economic stability?
This new war would be unlike previous conflicts the US has fought in the last 15 years.
During Desert Storm, the US had a large coalition of allies, the advantage of technological superiority, and fought the enemy troops on mostly uninhabited desert wasteland. In the war against Afghanistan last fall, we had both strong air supremacy and support from Taliban resistance fighters scattered throughout the country.
This time around, we have very few allies who are willing to support a new war against Saddam Hussein. The only nations that are willing to back us up are traditional allies like Great Britain.
The new war would be fought in high-population cities like Baghdad where civilian casualties could run high and Iraqi troops would have many places to hide. Unlike Desert Storm and Afghanistan, American fatalities would likely run in the thousands. Didn’t we learn any lessons from Vietnam about fighting a war like that?
Some might argue that a war against Iraq is essential because Hussein is likely to sponsor terrorism against the US. However, a war really resolve that issue? Hussein, for all of his vile policies, does hold his country together and maintains a certain degree of stability. If Hussein were killed, splinter groups would throw the country into absolute chaos that could inspire even more hatred and further acts of terrorism against the United States.
