The war on Iraq

¶ … hour deadline for Saddam to step down as ruler of Iraq, America launched its first series of air strikes on Baghdad. Since then, there has been much debate about whether or not the United States and its allies are justified in the attempt to disarm Saddam Hussein, and to force him from power. While unpopular in some areas, the war against Iraq is not only justified, but is also necessary for a number of reasons.

One reason to support the war in Iraq is the threat of weapons of mass destruction. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies director John Chipman, "War, sanctions and inspections have reversed and retarded, but not eliminated Iraq's nuclear, biological and chemical weapons and long-range missile capacities, nor have they removed Baghdad's enduring interest in developing these capacities" (Chipman, 2002). With such a high level of both potential weapon construction and currently owned and operated weapons in Iraq, the threat is one which needs to be handled quickly. Although Iraq continues to deny possession of such weapons, even Hans Blix, the UN chief weapons inspector, says, "...many proscribed weapons and items (in Iraq) are not accounted for" (Associated Press, 2003).

Another reason to support the war in Iraq is to rid Iraq from Saddam Hussein's Baath party forces. Saddam and his regime have continuously abused and neglected the people of Iraq. For example, in March of 1988, the Kurds at Halabjah were bombarded with chemical weapons, producing a great many deaths. Over 5,000 were killed during that one attack, and it was just one of some forty chemical assaults staged by Iraq against the Kurdish people (Pelletiere, 1998). According to recent finding by U.S. military forces in Iraq, food for the Oil for food program was not given to Iraqi people, but instead to the military. He has also invaded three of his neighbors -- Iran, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait (Phillips, 2002).

Another reason for the war in Iraq is to free the Iraqi people. Since Saddam came into power, the people of Iraq have been in fear. In a dossier presented by Foreign Secretary Jack Straw in December of 2002, Saddam is said to have masterminded "the widespread and systematic torture of his political opponents and other citizens to hold on to power." The dossier lists intelligence material, firsthand accounts of Iraqi victims of torture and oppression, and reports by non-governmental organizations that show Saddam's inhumane treatment of his people, and the fear tactics used to force his people into compliance (Sardall, 2002).

Opponents of the war suggest that there have been no weapons of mass destruction found. Yet as even Blix pointed out, "If they do not exist, credible evidence to that effect should be presented" (Wardell, 2003). Opponents have also accused president Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair of using weapons of mass destruction as an excuse to force Saddam from power, in order to maintain the large oil supply of Iraq. The abuses of the Iraqi people, however, are reason enough for the coalition forces to attack.