I was heartened to read at least one letter in The Herald expressing concern about the plans of the Bush administration to attack Iraq. Fortunately, a difference of opinion exists and is being expressed in many different voices. These are some of the questions I think need to be asked:
1. Does the United States have, under international law, a legal or moral right to initiate a unilateral assault on Iraq?
2. Why has the administration found so little international support for its proposed policy?
3. Are we prepared to accept significant losses of American lives and to inflict heavy losses on Iraq’s civilian population?
4. Would not an invasion aimed at toppling Saddam Hussein remove any inhibitions he might have regarding the use of chemical, biological and, possibly, nuclear weapons?
5. How would we cope with the outbreaks of anti-American protest and violence that surely would erupt throughout the Muslim world, jeopardizing the survival of pro-U.S. governments in Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, and further inflaming the Israeli-Palestinian crisis?
6. Can our economy withstand a sharp rise in oil prices, another decline in air travel, and other negative economic effects that can be expected from a major war in the Middle East?
7. If we should remove Saddam, who will govern? Will we leave the country in chaos as has happened in Afghanistan?
As we remember the evil inflicted upon our country Sept, 11, 2001, let us demand answers to these questions, lest we become the evil that we deplore.
Everett
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