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|Monday Feb. 10, 2003 | BACK | NEXT BETWEEN BUSH AND SADDAM, I KNOW WHERE I STAND
by Angelo Persichilli (Versione
italiana) OTTAWA - The so-called self-described "pacifists" are the most important source of support for U.S. President George Bush. This may strike you as absurd, but it is not. I urge all the "pacifists" to take a hard second look at the idea. With their radical anti-American slogans, left-over from the Cold War years, the pacifists are forcing people to choose between Saddam Hussein and George Bush, to choose between the American and Iraqi government. Many people, even though unwillingly, know where they have to stand when push comes to shove. Let me be clear on one important issue: I am against an American intervention in Iraq, even one under the United Nations umbrella. Contrary to what happened during the first Gulf War, this time not only will soldiers be the victims of the conflict, but most certainly civilians and children too who will be on the front line. When writing about the first conflict in 1990, many said that the biggest mistake made by then-U.S. president George Bush Sr. was not to go ahead with the troops right into Baghdad and get rid of Saddam and his regime altogether. One of the reasons why he left the job unfinished was because the second part of the conflict would have involved more civilian casualties. It was Saddam Hussein who hid himself behind children, old people, and women. Last week, I was in Toronto listening to
one of the last speeches delivered by Alexa McDonough as leader of the NDP and
the first delivered by Jack Layton as her replacement. She was blasting George
W. Bush for the But I was standing there thinking, yes, the sanctions are inhumane but did it ever cross McDonoughıs mind that if children are dying Saddam Hussein has at least something to do with it too? "But thatıs obvious" said a friend, who is a staunch NDP supporter, to whom I addressed my concerns during McDonoughıs speech. "We donıt have to say that because everybody knows." Thatıs wrong. George Bush Sr. didnıt pursue the matter for that same reason and many people hoped that the atrocities of Saddam Hussein would have been addressed later by the international peace movement and other international organizations. But that hasnıt happened. Saddam Hussein is still making a mockery of every democratic principle and he keeps killing whoever is perceived not in line with his madness; even family members who dare to express the slightest disagreement are slaughtered. Since 1990, there havenıt been too many in the NDP or those in the so-called members of the "peace movement" lifting a finger to stop the genocide of the Kurds or other atrocities. It seems they were only concerned about "American sanctions," the only problem affecting otherwise happy Iraqi people. And we havenıt seen the peace movement
defend the starving people in Afghanistan, compliments of the Taliban regime
and its mentor, Osama bin Laden. Documentaries about the atrocities against
women were well-known around the world and nobody lifted a finger, the
Americans, or members of the peace movement. American victims are not more important than the victims in any other country of the world. One victim of violence is one victim too much. But Sept. 11 was an attack against the way of life of billions of people around the world. Since that day, flying is not a pleasure any longer, international trade rules have been put on hold, many business in sectors like transportation and tourism have been scuttled, families have been affected. The aftershocks are still shaking our every day way of life. I refuse the popular belief that whatever is bad in the world has to be thrown at the White House steps and whatever is good to someone else. I am against any war, with or without the United Nations, and, I hope, soon there will be someone who is willing to talk about peace. But please, on the table, donıt put only George Bush and his administration, but also people and regimes who commit on a daily basis atrocities against women, children, minorities and whoever dares to say: I donıt agree. Donıt get me wrong. Iım not a Yankee Doodle Dandy and I have many questions Iıd like to ask the American administration; for example, why does the U.S. have sanctions against Cuba and not against China or North Korea. I also question their commitment for the environment and many other issues like Medicare and social housing and I am also offended by their medieval attachment to the death penalty as a deterrent (valid or not) against crime. However, donıt force me to choose between Saddam Hussein and George Bush: if I have to, I know where I stand. |