Reply #205: Yes and Yes [View All]

First, did the U.S. unilaterally invade a sovereign nation or was action justified?

The U.S. unilaterally invaded a sovereign nation. Saddam Hussein's regime was no threat to anyone but Iraqis. And it's difficult to justify "saving" the Iraqis from Hussein when the U.S. turns a blind to and/or support terrible human rights violations the war over. More to the point, we can't trust people who demonstrably care not one iota about human rights to install a better regime.

Second, which is probably related to your perspective on the first, what do you think the appropriate course of action is for the Iraqi people? Should they accept our control and hope for the best? Or, are they within their rights to fight for their sovereignty?

The Iraqi people can and should defend their right to self-determination. If that means attacking occupying forces, so be it.

I'm not clamoring for the deaths of American soldiers. I wish that no one had to die. But as long as American soldiers are serving in Iraq, they're fair game. One more reason to bring them home.

I also think that soldiers have a right to resist an unjustified war. I would applaud the soldier who refuses to obey, or who turns his or her gun on his or her officer.

The U.S. has absolutely no intention of establishing democracy in Iraq. If it is established, it will be kept on a very short leash.

The occupying forces should leave Iraq. The UN should take care of reconstruction and (to some extent) security. The U.S. should be made to pay reparations.

The people should be permitted to form any kind of government they want, whether an Islamist theocracy or a democracy.

In addition, the Kurds should be finally given a state composed of parts of what are now Iran, Iraq, and Turkey.

For the bonus round, I'll throw this one in there. The U.S. DOES possess WMDs. What if the European Union gave us an ultimatum, to turn in our weapons or they would declare war on us? Would you fight if foreign troops landed on our soil?

I believe that the U.S. should disarm. However, I don't feel that any other country (especially any other country that possesses WMDs itself) has a right to force the U.S. to relinquish them.

And yes, if foreign troops landed on our soil, I would fight them -- if not physically, then through propaganda, civil disobedience, etc.