JOHN J CARROLL,
A chara, - I am disturbed by the the lack of support within Europe - with the honourable exception of Tony Blair - for the possible war against Iraq.
People seem to oppose war with Iraq on two grounds: that it would be outside the auspices of the United Nations and that it would be another manifestation of American unilateral action. Neither reason is sufficient.
Saddam Hussein must be considered the gravest threat to international security as long as he remains in power. Since his bloody rise to power Saddam has shown he is willing to massacre. He has disregarded international borders and laws, invading Iran and Kuwait, as well as launching unprovoked missile attacks on Israel. The real possibility that a man who would rather let his people die from a lack of medicine than surrender his ambitions to develop nuclear weapons should be allowed to continue his rule, when regime change is eminently possible, is sickening. Yet this seems to be the attitude of the European governments.
Rather than pursue the failed policy of weapons inspection, we in the EU must develop a common military and foreign policy with regard to any invasion of Iraq. If Europe stands idly by and lets the US act alone, or manages to scupper American plans, Europe will have again failed collectively as it did in 1938 at the Munich peace talks.
A democratic, secular Iraq is within the grasp of the world but because of hysterical noises from the cowards that populate the governments of Europe, it may slip away. A federal Iraq with equal rights for all its citizens would provide a beacon of hope for the oppressed majorities in the Middle East.
Rather than suffer without hope under regimes such as that of Saudi Arabia or Egypt, Arab peoples would see a vibrant, healthy and wealthy alternative in the traditional Arab heartland of Iraq.
A change of regime would also be good for Europe; it would stem the tide of immigrants from Iraq as well as providing the West with a large supply of cheap oil free from the greedy hands of OPEC. This would surely fuel a global economic recovery that would be good for all the world's citizens. - Is mise,
JOHN J CARROLL, Ratoath, Co Meath.