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By Salah O. Ahmed
As America prepares for war, the world finds itself wondering whether it has found the answer to a question that has hung over it since the end of World War II: How long will it be before a leader of a strong nation takes it into his head to rule the world?
The longer it took the better, everyone thought. And they were right. These days, with innovative technology, the possibility of nuclear war is slim. The idea that everyone would die as a result makes the whole idea unappetizing, even difficult to chew.
But thirst for power is a theme that is universal and unwed to any specific time or place. Although Hitler's attempt at ruling the world would have failed if not for a public eager to bounce back from a global economic depression, it was the personality, the man, the cult figure who single-handedly whipped his citizenry into a frenzy about the need to go to war, and succeeded in convincing them to go along.
The problem with George W. Bush wanting to attack Iraq is that he is the intellectual equivalent of a bowl of Jell-o. Take the following statement taken from an official White House transcript, quoting Bush's message to Iraq: "I was proud the other day when both Republicans and Democrats stood with me in the Rose Garden to announce their support for a clear statement of purpose: you disarm, or we will."
With the country still reeling from an election that mistakenly put a defeated man in office, the president has emerged from the rubble with a clear mandate from a majority of Americans not just to run the country but the world, as well. It has been forgotten, however, that what made America a superpower was a clear mandate from the international community. It was America's pension for neutrality and arbitration that attracted the world's trust. Our democratic values and openness to diverse opinion captured the imagination of people everywhere.
Recent history, however, has shown that the only super power is not that innocent. It has begun wars, assassinated leaders and conducted itself like a terrorist state just as often as it has engaged in noble activities.
Today, at a time when rich Americans have gotten richer and poor Americans poorer, the president has opted for the greatest of all national diversions: war. It is an attractive idea to Bush since he could win on many fronts - oil prices, prestige, revenge.
Of course, it does not matter why Bush wants war. Americans should stand by the president during wartime, whatever his reasons. And besides, he knows what he is doing.
The president also knows what he believes. He made that clear to a group of Italian journalists some time ago when, on a different topic, he assured them: "I know what I believe. I will continue to articulate what I believe and what I believe - I believe what I believe is right."
With such clarity of mind, the youngest Bush, wishing to fit into the roomier pants of his father, proposes to send Americans to yet another war. President Saddam Hussein is a brutal dictator who has massacred his own people as well as his neighbors, and used chemical warfare to achieve military ends. For all anyone knows, he has weapons of mass destruction and could use them unless he is destroyed.
Attacking Iraq for these reasons is a joke to anyone who is literate and who knows the US has been Iraq's longtime ally. When politician after politician warns about Hussein's past abuses against his own people and during the war with Iran, they are speaking of times when the US was actively supporting the very Iraqi regime it now wishes to replace. Hussein continues to suppress the will of his people, killing anyone who opposes him. But there are many leaders out there who can be accused of the same thing, yet who enjoy friendly relations with the US, if not outright support.
Yes, Iraq is ignoring UN resolutions to admit inspectors and destroy its nuclear program - if one even exists. That does not make it special. Israel is ignoring resolutions concerning its own nuclear program, as well as its occupation of Palestinian territories.
The double standard has angered not just the Arab world, but Europe as well. Many of America's friends find it hard to swallow that a nation preaching fairness, justice and freedom itself ends up behaving like a bully. As for now, Bush seems content to play the role, allowing some of the kids to build their sand castles, even be bullies themselves, while he intimidates the others and steals their lunch. Until he wises up, he will do a lot of damage, much of it irreparable.
The South End - Wayne State University student newspaper.
October 22, 2002
The War of Indigestion
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