 |
| Fahad Alqurashi is a graduate student and writes 'A Message From The East' for the Daily News. His views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper. |
So, the flowery idea of a quick and easy victory over Saddam's regime is over.
All the promises of a happier future for the Iraqi people are gone now as American and British missiles and air strikes kill civilians and destroy properties.
The American invasion of Iraq is a huge mistake because it contributes to destabilizing an already unstable region and represents a dangerous precedent for unilateral intervention in the affairs of other nations.
I just can't understand why American officials insist that this military campaign is necessary to destroy Saddam's weapons of mass destruction. Is Iraq the only country that has such weapons?
The five permanent members in the Security Council have weapons of mass destruction. The United States built weapons of mass destruction and used them in the past against civilians, causing unimaginable suffering.
Trying to make a marketable idea of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction representing a threat to international peace is disgusting. Attacking Iraq to protect the world is not a good excuse. The responsibility of disarming Iraq rests with the United Nations, not the United States.
The United States has never bothered about the suffering of the Iraqi people. I still remember the former Secretary of State Madelyn Albright. Upon being confronted with statistical figures about the high number of Iraqi children dying because of the sanctions she said, "They deserve it."
Claiming that the motive of this campaign is to plant the seeds of democracy in Iraq is not a good excuse either. The United States will not give the Iraqis the opportunity to choose their leadership after removing Saddam.
It is not true that the Iraqi people are now closer to freedom. Poor men and women who have been under the brutal reign of Saddam should prepare themselves for a new period of colonization that may not be over soon.Just look at what is happening in Afghanistan after the American invasion. The Taliban is gone, al-Qaida is gone, and in their place are American military bases.
What happened to the Afghans will happen to the Iraqis. Saddam and his regime will go, and the American military bases will remain.
Removing Saddam from power shouldn't be at the cost of destroying the whole country, killing civilians and terrifying the innocent. It should be achieved through a limited and mindful operation targeting only Saddam and his regime.
This war harms Americans, as well. It fuels anti-American sentiment and will thereby harm the nation's image and interests in the Middle East and around the world.
A Ball State professor went to France over Spring Break and had to pretend she was not American.
Operation: Iraqi Freedom is unjustified aggression. All it does is bring more suffering to Iraqi civilians.
Write to Fahad at fahad765@yahoo.com
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
