It is becoming rather clear that the United Sates has no good option in Iraq. The future, if the United States stays there, will be continued violence. Our presence in any form will be resented. If we leave quite probably tribal and ethnic conflict will break out, perhaps spreading to adjacent countries. What to do? There is enormous gravity to this question. Large numbers of people are likely to be killed and maimed either way. This is a question we all need to explore. As citizens of this presumed democracy that is ours, not just that of the experts, if we are serious about taking our country back. As we consider the matter we should, in my judgment, seek guiding principles and the major steps they entail. Few of us know enough to be specific. The following are some of my thoughts.
First we have to show the world that Bush, by his lying to the American people, did not have their approval for this unprovoked war. Bush’s impeachment is necessary if there is to be any credibility to our intentions and, hence, any chance of mitigating continued violence in Iraq and the Mideast.
Second, having distanced ourselves from that calloused monster, we must use the moral space we create to bring in the United Nations, representing the world community not just the United States.
Third, we must provide funds to repair the damage we have caused. These funds should be administered by the United Nations not the United States to make it clear we are not once again manipulating Iraq’s destiny.
Fourth, we must use our influence in the United Nations to create a conference of Middle East countries, encouraged by the world’s major powers, to develop a plan for Middle East coexistence. This may include formation of a regional trading block using their oil to establish a unified presence in the concert of nations. This would do much, in my judgment, to assuage the harm western countries have done over the last hundred years in treating these people as adjuncts to western imperialism. Such a conference must include Israel, but without United States sponsorship. In this connection the liberal element of Israeli politics should be encouraged by the world community as a way of facilitating the unified presence mentioned above. Where that liberal presence is found in Muslim countries it should also be encouraged. For too long the United States, under the thrall of corporate imperatives for profit, has sided with the conservative elements in these countries. Indeed we overthrew Mossadegh , the popularly elected head of a Democratic Iran and installed the tyrannical Shah to prevent the nationalization of their oil by the Iranians. However, these countries cannot be brought into the world community while practicing the barbarities of Islamic fundamentalism. Similarly, to make ourselves credible in the world community we shall have to demonstrate that the United States is not run by Christian fundamentalists. We will never have the human consensus necessary for world peace from a bunch of religious fundamentalists, whether Christian, Islamic, Hindu, etc. Religious fundamentalism is an enemy of world peace. In brief, the United States, after its egregious attack on Iraq, its abrogation of the Geneva Conventions, its withdrawal from the Kyoto Treaty, its withdrawal of family planning services in a planet being made uninhabitable by overpopulations, and many other violations of common decency, has incurred a great debt to humanity.
It will be said that we cannot do all of this. First of all we should have thought of that before we unleashed our killing machine. Second, it will be said that we don’t have the resources to do this. In that regard we had the resources to rejuvenate Europe after World War II. Third we need to learn to live with much less for environmental purposes. Let us use those savings to restore the basics we have destroyed. Fifth, it will be said that such an effort is far too complex to accomplish. Again, we should have thought of that before we unleashed the war mongers and greed heads on that small nation. This, in my judgment, is what we must undertake if we are ever to be a positive presence in the world.
It will be said that this whole enterprise goes against human nature as we know it Human beings may, on occasion, be moral, but nations never. This level of humility and concern for others cannot be expected of any nation. I suggest that those of this persuasion look honestly at the alternative, keeping in mind what we have done. Obviously the above proposal is imperfect as is and lacks anything approaching adequte detail, but its underlying premise that the United States owes this world’s peoples, especially those of the Middle East an enormous debt is, I think, beyond doubt.
Bob Newhard
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