We are fortunate to live in an idealistic nation.
America is a country whose ideals of democracy and free market capitalism are so strong that they should be echoed throughout the world.
In some countries, like Iraq, dictators do not agree with a nation that gives its people the right to vote, freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
We live in a time when terrorists are willing to kill American people simply to have their point of disagreement made.
So, when the question of whether we should attack Iraq is asked, we as a nation should be answering with a question of our own: Why haven’t we yet?
In 1991, following the Persian Gulf War, the United States sought an international coalition against Iraq.
Following the events of Sept. 11, we sought an international coalition against terrorism.
Years ago, such actions made sense.
There was always a balance of power, mainly between the US and the former USSR, in which the threat of interference constantly loomed, thus deterring the US from any unilateral military action.
Now that the US is the lone superpower that balance is gone.
Imagine you are the strongest kid in the park.
When a smaller, hostile kid threatens you and others in the park, should you have to go around the park, telling everyone your story and asking if it’s all right to defend yourself?
Should you have to look to others for help to do so? No, of course not. And the US shouldn’t either.
We stand as the last remaining superpower, and we’re hated for it.
Iraq is a country that is hostile to the US. Its leader, Saddam Hussein, is seeking weapons of mass destruction.
These weapons, capable of unthinkable horrors, are at the fingertips of a madman who slaughters his own people and is rumored to support terrorist networks.
The terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 cost America three thousand lives.
Picture what it would be like to lose three million.
We cannot sit by and wait for Hussein to gather up every chemical, biological and nuclear weapon he can get his hands on and unleash them onto the world.
The US may not want the responsibility of stopping Hussein; we may not have asked for it, but it is ours nonetheless.
In 1991 the plan was to demilitarize Iraq so that it was no longer a threat.
However, Iraq continues to dishonor its end of the peace treaty made after the Persian Gulf War by entering no fly zones and routinely kicking out United Nations weapons inspectors.
Demilitarization is no longer an option.
Saddam Hussein must be removed from power by whatever means necessary, and Iraq must be disarmed, permanently.
The US is not a nation to be bullied around or threatened by lunatics.
We are the strongest kid in the park. And it’s about time we acted like it.
Tim Wiseley can be reached at knock220@aol.com
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