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Author Topic: War with Iraq  (Read 5839 times)
lillibelle
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« on: January 23, 2003, 09:50:08 pm »

I am German, and have been married to an American for 16 years now. My husband served in the US Army for 20 years and retired three years ago. I am glad he is retired. We have been living in Germany for almost 14 years.

He worked a lot of overtime during the first Gulf War, but his unit never deployed to the Gulf. He was not so lucky during Bosnia. He spent 6 months there - fortunately in Sarajevo at the international headquarters with all the bigshots.

As both my husband and me are very interested in current events, we have been having a lot of discussions about the situation. I am opposed to the war, because I think it only serves to keep the media from asking Bush and some members of his cabinet questions about a company called Enron. If I am not mistaken, Bush had a track record for shmoozing with the oil industry, and that seems to be the main reason for this foray to the Gulf. Who knows, maybe he even wants to finish the job his father left undone a few years ago?

Be that as it may, I do not think that a war is a good idea - at least not the way the administration is going about it. I think they do not have the military intelligence to really understand the consequences of their actions. Not too long ago the US helped the Taliban regime to power in Afghanistan against the Sovjet-installed regime. 20 years later, the Taliban regime turned into a snake that bit the hand that nourished it in the most violent way. If I am not mistaken, the US also supported Saddam Hussein in more ways than one during the war Iraq fought against Iran. I think that the greatest mistake the recent US-administrations have made is to underestimate their friends and foes. When Rumsfeld calls countries like Germany and France "Old Europe" and considers them has-been, it is quite unwise - not that he is known for his tact.

My parents are refugees who lost their homes and several loved ones during and as a result of WWII. Our family was separated by the Wall, and I was lucky to grow up in the free part of Germany. I experienced life behind the Iron Curtain during visits with my aunt - and it was depressing. I am grateful that thanks to the Americans I had a chance to grow up free and in a democracy. Many Americans died for democracy and the freedom of speech, but right now the Bush-administration is taking away this freedom of speech from sovereign governments here in Europe as well as organizations like NATO and the UN, because some happen to have a different opinion on this matter.

I personally am pleased that Schröder stands by his decision not to actively participate in a war. Not only are the German armed forces very weak with regards to their equipment, but I am afraid that involvement in war might only result in terrorist retaliations against the countries who fight against Saddam Hussein. In the 1980s, I experienced terrorist attacks against Americans here in Germany first hand , and it is something I do not want to experience again.

I agree that Saddam Hussein is dangerous; I think there are a number of Muslim heads of state who feel the same way about him. Why not use the resources to take only him out, and not cause something whose consequences non one can or wants to foresee. If the CIA and the military intelligence are really so superior, it should not be a problem to take only him out and spare the lives of many people.

Lillibelle who believes that war is not (always) the answer

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