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sdelmonteI figure I should get this out of my system. Might do me some good.
I am scared. OK, I've been scared for a while, and I scare easily. But as we have arrived at the eve of war, I can't but help think about all the things that could go wrong.
And then I get more scared when I think about how it seems like George W. Bush hasn't given a thought to any of them. Terrorists? No problem, we'll just go to Orange Alert. The economy? Well, we'll just cut taxes some more. Allies? We don't need no stinking allies. The fog of war? No such thing. We're gonna whoop 'em! Rebuilding Iraq? No problem, it will be as easy as Afghanistan. Osama? He's irrelevant now, and Saddam is the true threat? North Korea? Iran? Weren't you listening - I said Saddam is the threat.
I really wanted to find a reason to support this war. Saddam Hussein and his cronies deserve most of what they are about to get. Iraq is a nascent danger, and does want the Bomb and does have some hideous weapons in its bunkers. Maybe the world does have an obligation to stop him.
But the not the way the US is going about it. Not without any friends beyond a half-hearted Britain. Not without taking care of greater, more imminent threats first. Not without making the case to the American people. Saying "imagine if Mohammed Atta had nerve gas" is not enough - the way to stop Al Qaeda from getting its hands on WMCs is to destroy Al Qaeda. Yes, Iraq may get the Bomb. but doesn't North Korea have it? Hell, Pakistan was practically threatening to use it last summer, and they're our best ally against Al Qaeda! I still don't understand why we need to go to war instead of containing Iraq, and why it cannot wait till we've taken care of other business first.
Not of this adds up for me, and I find myself frightened not only of Al Qaeda and of the possible last, desparate actions of Saddam, but of Dubya himself. He's approaching this war with a nearly messianic fervor. More than one writer has speculated that he truly believes this is God's mission for him on Earth. In short, is he as much a fanatic as Osama? Is he so intent on fighting this war that he will even put the civilian population here and in Israel and Kuwait at risk to accomplish the mission?
I don't know how this will end. Guranteeing easy victory seems foolish, but no one outside of Iraq doubts Saddam is done for. But what damage will be along the way? How many terrorist attacks will Dubya tolerate as long as we can kill ten times more in Iraq? How much damage to the national and global ecomony will be inflicted as the oil fields are under threat, and as the cost of war mounts? How many angry young Arabs will join an Al Qaeda that for a couple of weeks really looked ready to be smashed for real? It all looks bad, and it might be bad in ways no one has even thought of.
And I lay blame for the situation solely at the feet of our president. He pushed for this war, for a war that Saddam would never have begun, for a war that has ruined America's reputation not just with France - OK, that's not something I care about - but with the bulk of the nations, nations that like us like Mexico and Turkey. And while Dubya is not be to blame at all for any terrorist attacks, he should be made to tell us why we could spend all that money for a war with Irqa but not for a war with Al Qaeda and the like.
If you don't agree with my assessment, please try to change my mind. I really want to hear the other side. But for now, I cannot find it and sit here, afraid for the future, and trying to figure out how it got this way. I keep wondering just why God is letting this happen this way. Is he trying to tell us something? Or are we just lost, so far from where we need to be that we cannot hear the message of God anymore?
May the Lord keep up all safe, and let the triumph of truth over falsehood come at the same instant as the victory of true good over evil.
OK, that's my war rant. Never did anything like this before. What do you all think? :)
I am scared. OK, I've been scared for a while, and I scare easily. But as we have arrived at the eve of war, I can't but help think about all the things that could go wrong.
And then I get more scared when I think about how it seems like George W. Bush hasn't given a thought to any of them. Terrorists? No problem, we'll just go to Orange Alert. The economy? Well, we'll just cut taxes some more. Allies? We don't need no stinking allies. The fog of war? No such thing. We're gonna whoop 'em! Rebuilding Iraq? No problem, it will be as easy as Afghanistan. Osama? He's irrelevant now, and Saddam is the true threat? North Korea? Iran? Weren't you listening - I said Saddam is the threat.
I really wanted to find a reason to support this war. Saddam Hussein and his cronies deserve most of what they are about to get. Iraq is a nascent danger, and does want the Bomb and does have some hideous weapons in its bunkers. Maybe the world does have an obligation to stop him.
But the not the way the US is going about it. Not without any friends beyond a half-hearted Britain. Not without taking care of greater, more imminent threats first. Not without making the case to the American people. Saying "imagine if Mohammed Atta had nerve gas" is not enough - the way to stop Al Qaeda from getting its hands on WMCs is to destroy Al Qaeda. Yes, Iraq may get the Bomb. but doesn't North Korea have it? Hell, Pakistan was practically threatening to use it last summer, and they're our best ally against Al Qaeda! I still don't understand why we need to go to war instead of containing Iraq, and why it cannot wait till we've taken care of other business first.
Not of this adds up for me, and I find myself frightened not only of Al Qaeda and of the possible last, desparate actions of Saddam, but of Dubya himself. He's approaching this war with a nearly messianic fervor. More than one writer has speculated that he truly believes this is God's mission for him on Earth. In short, is he as much a fanatic as Osama? Is he so intent on fighting this war that he will even put the civilian population here and in Israel and Kuwait at risk to accomplish the mission?
I don't know how this will end. Guranteeing easy victory seems foolish, but no one outside of Iraq doubts Saddam is done for. But what damage will be along the way? How many terrorist attacks will Dubya tolerate as long as we can kill ten times more in Iraq? How much damage to the national and global ecomony will be inflicted as the oil fields are under threat, and as the cost of war mounts? How many angry young Arabs will join an Al Qaeda that for a couple of weeks really looked ready to be smashed for real? It all looks bad, and it might be bad in ways no one has even thought of.
And I lay blame for the situation solely at the feet of our president. He pushed for this war, for a war that Saddam would never have begun, for a war that has ruined America's reputation not just with France - OK, that's not something I care about - but with the bulk of the nations, nations that like us like Mexico and Turkey. And while Dubya is not be to blame at all for any terrorist attacks, he should be made to tell us why we could spend all that money for a war with Irqa but not for a war with Al Qaeda and the like.
If you don't agree with my assessment, please try to change my mind. I really want to hear the other side. But for now, I cannot find it and sit here, afraid for the future, and trying to figure out how it got this way. I keep wondering just why God is letting this happen this way. Is he trying to tell us something? Or are we just lost, so far from where we need to be that we cannot hear the message of God anymore?
May the Lord keep up all safe, and let the triumph of truth over falsehood come at the same instant as the victory of true good over evil.
OK, that's my war rant. Never did anything like this before. What do you all think? :)
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(no subject)
Date: Mar. 17th, 2003 11:14 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: Mar. 17th, 2003 12:04 pm (UTC)I believe the first and possible gravest error made was not to ensure that all American children receive a solid grounding in World History. No great republic has ever lasted more than a few centuries. Every great empire has been destroyed from within. What destroyed each republic or empire was not its enemies, rather it was the hubris of its megalomaniacal, self-serving leaders who would be emperors, if not gods.
Athens fell because in a fit of insanity its people voted to send the entirety of the Athenian army and navy off to destroy the city of Syracuse in Sicily. The Roman Republic became an empire because the Senate thought Octavian pliable and a lesser threat than Antony.
There are a couple of parallels to be observed with the situation the United States finds itself in... but somehow I don't think anyone besides a few classical scholars would ever notice...
I myself am waiting for the day when Dubya starts calling himself "Divus Bushus"...
(no subject)
Date: Mar. 17th, 2003 12:32 pm (UTC)Of course, this is a good place to insert the usual Santayana quote, but let's just assume everyone remembers it. Lest I be forced to repeat it. :)
(no subject)
Date: Mar. 17th, 2003 12:46 pm (UTC)But what are their PLANS? I want to see a five-year projection. I want to know how we're going to pay for this when we're in debt ourselves. What about a ten-year projection? All of this is bad enough without feeling as if they really haven't thought about what happens afterwards (and history will show things don't work out well when we oust a dictator and put in someone else...the whole vicious cycle just starts around again.)
Bush seems to view himself as a chosen one destined to stomp out terrorism, and avenge his father, and he doesn't seem to understand that we can't just do this all by ourselves. Not just the war, but the clean up after the war should--and probably will have to be--an international effort.
(no subject)
Date: Mar. 17th, 2003 01:09 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: Mar. 17th, 2003 12:58 pm (UTC)/me resists the urge to bring up Noriega and a handful of other dictators we've installed over the years because at the time they seemed preferable to communists or religion-vendors
good rant
Date: Mar. 19th, 2003 08:09 am (UTC)I admit I'm a little nervous, granted in Kosovo I should be safer. The population here may remember Sadaam supplied Milsoevich with soem of his weapons, so hopefully they won't retaliate against us.
I doubt I will change your mind, nor is that my desire. Even with the backing of 45 nations, I wish we could have taken care of Sadaam back in 91. I do not relish what will happen, nor should I. My main hope is that whatever happens in the next few hours will be finished in a few weeks, if not sooner.
Both of my parents have brough up Vietnam to me and are concerned about it. I hope that it does not happen, though two good things came of that war: first was the destruction of Lyndon Johnson and second was that it ended an overly strong faith in our Government that started after WWII. I am encouraged by the fact that Vietnam is entering a slow but steady trek to capitalism.
May we all stay safe and may I be visiting you in NYC after I depart Kosovo. MY main ordeal for now will probably be a PT test on Friday, and I have never been the most active person. Wish me luck on the situps :)