Johnny P News is committed to, in most cases, avoiding editorializing current events. We do not consider ourselves part of the ‘Pointy-Headed Elite’, who know better than the readers what to think on issues. However, we have decided to offer an opinion on the crisis in Iraq.
We support the position of President George W. Bush, believe it is the position of most Americans and view Iraq as a threat that reaches well beyond its borders.
What some in the international community characterize as a rush to war is in fact the logical destination and result of 12 years of deception and defiance by Saddam Hussein. Seventeen resolutions and hundreds of cruise-missile/allied aircraft strikes later, the government of the U.S. is looking for closure with Iraq. There are too many enemies we don’t see seeking to harm us than to continue to tolerate one we can. In “containment” we have a failed policy costing us millions of dollars annually and ever present is the possibility of loss of U.S. life: Iraqi soldiers constantly fire upon coalition aircraft patrolling the no-fly zone. Mathematically, the odds are someday Iraq will succeed in downing a U.S. aircraft. Saddam Hussein continues to sell oil on the black-market, yet blames the hardships suffered by his people on the sanctions, perpetuating enmity towards America.
Beyond a doubt Iraq represents a threat to the region and the planet. Saddam and company have a track record of aggression, attack, environmental crimes and inciting insurrection in countries such as The United States and Israel.
We listen to the assertions of those in France, Germany and the streets of America that this is about Oil and empire-building. We believe however that with the recent revelation of the historical relationship of President Chirac of France and Saddam Hussein that if there is any motivation based on Oil, it belongs to France.
Beyond this even; we strongly take the view that all member states of the United Nations Security Council realize the threat Saddam Hussein represents and have no real aversion to the U.S. once and for all dealing with it. Rather, what is actually deemed intolerable is what will be left in the wake of a U.S. victory in Iraq: a democracy driven by capitalism. Such a society represents a direct threat not to the stability of the region, but to those dictatorships and monarchies that currently hold power in almost all of the oil-rich Arab states. The point made by President Bush when he says; “It is presumptuous and insulting to suggest that a whole region of the world, or the one-fifth of humanity that is Muslim, is somehow untouched by the most basic aspirations of life. Human cultures can be vastly different, yet the human heart desires the same good things everywhere on Earth.", is that all humans yearn for freedom.
The leaders of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait et al know this to be true and when a man with the power and determination of George W. Bush makes this assertion in justifying liberating Iraq, they are filled with foreboding: for they know this president actually does what he says. With a free and prosperous Iraq in the middle-east, brought upon by the direct intervention of the U.S., these states will no longer be able to convincingly blame America for the misfortunes of the people.
The people of the countries in this region will themselves see what capitalism brings; prosperity and freedom. Having it so close to them will make it irresistible, inspiring their own struggle for it.
For those who may have trouble accepting this point of view of those oppsed to the war, we suggest one look only to those who organize and lead the protests. They are a collection of self avowed socialist and communist groups. From C. Clark Kissinger, Mao activist and founder of ‘Not In Our Name’ to the Washington D.C. group; ‘Anti-Capitalist Convergence’, what constitutes the majority of organizers are ultra-leftist, communist groups. These organizations were protesting the U.S. long before this latest crisis in Iraq. These are the same people appearing at the W.T.O. and World Bank protests.
America has a historical precedence of sending it’s sons to die on battlefields for the freedom and rights of others. Every one of the U.N. Security Council states knows this also. Never has the U.S. sought to perpetuate an empire, rather we seek to export freedom and capitalism, knowing them to work hand in hand in securing peace for those who live under them.
Saddam Hussein has unequivocally shown he has no intention of adhering to international law or the terms of his country’s surrender in Gulf War one. Instead, he continues to develop weapons that will cause death on a massive scale.
Everyday the U.S. fritters away on the pointless task of trying to convince those who already know the truth means more U.S. soldiers, airmen, marines and sailors dead in Iraq when the war finally gets going.
For these reasons and more, it is time to go to war in Iraq.

Comments: editor@johnnypnews.com