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Special report: Iraq Iraq Under Pressure Iraq asks to meet with the U.N. regarding weapons inspections. (3/7/02) Perennial
Problem Outside
Links: U.S. State Department Iraq Page United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) United Nations Office of the Iraq Programme Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Iraq's Nuclear Resources |
Debating
the News: Iraq
The issue: In his State of the Union address in January 2002, President Bush called Iraq part of the world's "Axis of Evil" countries and has suggested that leader Saddam Hussein should be removed. Iraq and
its leader have had a difficult relationship with the United States
ever since the Persian Gulf war in 1990-1991, when the U.S. sent thousands
of military troops to the Since then, Hussein has been accused of many different crimes including supporting terrorist organizations, developing weapons of mass destruction like nuclear bombs, and murdering its own people with poison gas. Background: Congress holds hearings about a potential attack on Iraq. The question: Does the U.S. have the right to go into a country and remove its government? Should the U.S. go to war with Iraq now or wait until Hussein does something against the U.S. directly? Point of View One: The U.S. should remove Hussein soon. People supporting the removal of Hussein believe attacking him first, called a "pre-emptive" strike, is the only way to ensure that he does not attack his own people, a neighboring country, or even the United States. Read statements from government officials and analysts arguing that military action is important and necessary. Point
of View Two: The U.S. should consider other options before
launching military action.
Since Hussein has refused to let United Nations weapons inspectors inside his country since 1998, exactly what kind of weapons or how many weapons are stored is unknown. No public direct link has been drawn between Hussein and any terrorist activities in the last nine years. Read statements from government officials and analysts arguing that there are other things the U.S. should consider first. Speak Out! Now that you've read both sides of the argument, state your opinion in a 300-word essay and send it to us. We'll publish the best entries on the site.
-- By Samara Aberman, NewsHour Extra |
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Middle
East to stop an Iraqi invasion of the neighboring country of Kuwait.
People
opposed to toppling Hussein point to a lack of concrete evidence of
many things he is accused of doing.