March 2003
March 16
Today's adventure has been brought to me courtesy of some online folk who wanted to discuss the Iraq situation on another journaller's discussion list. The adventure for me was a journey deep into my thoughts on the subject. And I'll dump a few here.
I agree with those who say that potential action in Iraq seemed to have developed overnight...that it was like we went to bed one night trying to find Osama bin Laden and awoke to find ourselves embroiled in searching for weapons in Iraq. Yes, I know there's history, thanks. I was around for the Gulf War. In fact, I knew, as the friend of a friend, the father of the first American killed in that action. I haven't seen him in years, so I don't know his opinion on current events.
I don't like that a government that's supposed to represent me is going into a situation in which said government is making the preemptive strike. I have no problem with defensive movements, or with our supplying the majority of the personnel in a joint action (as in the Gulf War). I do have a problem with this country looking like a group of vengeful bullies.
Closely related: I think those who are angry at the French for that country's lack of willingness to ally themselves to the US in this need to step away from the freedom fries and ask themselves why it is they think the French "owe" this to the US. Yes, we were their allies in World War II. But that does not, to my way of thinking, mean they owe it to us to discard their own interests (legitimate or otherwise) and support us no matter what. Nor do we have the right to expect such. In fact, I think our making such an assumption (that they owe us allegiance) smacks awfully of that notion our mothers tell us to avoid: "If you loved me, you would..."
For the record, I had an uncle who was killed in France in World War II, and is buried there. I never knew him, of course. Unfortunately, neither did his younger child, who was six months old at the time. None of that changes my opinion. And I don't think my cousins plan to disinter their father's remains and bring them home.
I guess my main thought on the whole situation is to wonder just who the hell we, the nation, think we are. And my answer to that one isn't pretty.