Jan 09, 2005 09:30
The Iraq war has always been a difficult moral problem. Whether or not it was justified the truth is that Saddam being gone is a benefit and something that most Iraqis probably longed for. Perhaps, if undertaken in the right way, this could have a been a successful liberation, one which would leave the area more peaceful and safer. By acting respectfully and doing the most possible to avoid civilian casualties perhaps the area would have really welcomed us as liberators. Surely it can not be that difficult or expensive to learn the customs of the country you are invading and act accordingly. When a group of Marines chooses to spray paint its nickname on a ziggurat, it demonstrates that something has gone wrong in our culture. Why would the country welcome us, if we refuse to treat its history and religion with respect. Unfortunately it is clear that the whole operation has been bungled to the point that the country is no better off and may actually be worse. The torture of the Iraqi prisoners and the reaction of the American public is one of the clearest indicators that this war is not about the welfare of the people of Iraq. This is a revenge mission, clearly. When we see so many letters to the editor saying that the prisoners deserved what happened to them because of 9-11, or that we were justified because "they would have done worse to us" the true reason for going to war is clear. Where is our sense of moral superiority coming from? Because we have been hurt? The people of this area understand the fear and pain that comes from terror attacks better than any of us will ever know. To compare the attacks of 9-11 to what they experience every day is ridiculous. One attack and we think we know what terror is. If we refuse to treat the people we capture with some degree of respect, then what do we expect from our enemies? Do you think that they will, knowing what happened in Abu Ghraib, follow the rules of the Geneva Conventions? Maybe they would have abused the prisoners anyway, but one of the differences between 'us' and 'them', as I understood it, was that we valued human life and dignity. What can we say now? Instead of using the oppotunity of impressing the prisoners with the civility and respect of the US we make them hate us even more. During the Revolutionary War captured British soldiers were treated so well that some decided to stay in America after the war ended, and the same could have been true in this war. The United States is using its status as 'most powerful nation in the world' to become a bully, stepping on anyone in its way. Geneva Conventions? Wave the "Leader of the Free World" card. Allow our soldiers to be subject to war crimes tribunals? Forget it, and if you mention it agani we will cut off your aid. What no one seems to understand is that how one acts when powerful determines how one will be treated when others have the control. Being the leader of the world means that we have a responsibility to keep the universal imperative in mind and to be an example of proper conduct. Surely no one believes that we will forever be the most powerful nation in the world. After all, these things go in cycles, with the power of countries waxing and waning. To believe that we can maintain this forever is naive and dangerous. As long as we have the power, though, we will continue to live like there is no tomorrow, pushing other countries around, breaking alliances, insulting allies. Once China becomes the next world power the US will learn humility, only it will be too late.