Become a columnist. Or write an article. Or head back to the homepage.

Columns

The Shoe on the Other Foot

If the United States and Iraq traded places, we would already be at war. I think I could speak for all Americans when I say that we would object, perhaps even with violence, if another nation like Iraq or even North Korea insisted that we allowed United Nations inspectors into our innermost weapons manufacturing processes. Worse, Americans would consider it an outright act of war if United Nations inspectors started nosing around OUR military facilities, especially inspectors from nations we consider hostile.

In fact, if you get right down to it, whoÕs calling the kettle black? The United States is furious that Iraq may have a nuclear /biological /chemical weapons program, when the truth is that the United States has the largest -- by far -- of any nuclear /chemical weapons program and capability, and there is a strong possibility that we have a secret biological weapons program, as well.

Iraq is under the leadership of a very intelligent dictator who not only survived a global effort to overthrow him by military force, but is a world-class player in the political scheming arena and if you ask me, heÕll survive this latest chest beating by the United States. In that regard, Saddam Hussein cannot be bested or removed from power, and he wins the chess match of global politics and the intrigue within his own fold.

He wins the battles, but not the war. The United States will win in the end, simply because of our political structure, and this seems to have been forgotten in the maelstrom of home security and terrorist threats. While Hussein is an uncanny survivor, he is only human and prone to the human frailty of dying. At 64 years of age, Saddam HusseinÕs time is ticking louder, and he of course knows he cannot live forever. The United States just goes on with new administrations and a never dying legislature, continuing as it has for over 200 years. Hussein doesnÕt have that long. He is one man, and when he dies, then there is no more of him and the political landscape will change. Iraq is one of the birth places of civilization, dating back thousands of years. It has endured empires and conquerors and successive tides of civilization. Iraq will survive Saddam Hussein, too. Iraq will still be Iraq when he dies, no matter who comes to power after him.

The Iraqi people go about their daily lives and just move out of the way of the United Nations inspectors. TheyÕve seen foreign invasions before and they blithely go about their business like it happens every day. The United States on the other hand would be hysterical about that kind of situation and would rebel. Maybe we could learn some sort of wisdom from that ancient civilization.

The United States for example, is the only nation to use a nuclear bomb against another nation and is actively picking a fight with Iraq, despite a ho hum attitude by all its surrounding neighbours with the possible exceptions of Kuwait and Israel. Iraq is not picking a fight with anyone- we are picking one with them. I find that just a little odd. And I find it really odd that no other nation is willing to pick a fight with Iraq or lends support to either side or comes out supporting any real action against Iraq or even had the inclination to do so.

Iraq is so far down on the economic scale it barely registers, while the United States is the superpower both economically and militarily.

Iraq has been accused by this country of supporting and instigating worldwide terrorism, yet the United States has had its fair share of threatening other countries with complete annihilation, the latest ironically being Iraq. If the United States Ògoes it aloneÓ against this desert nation, what happens when other rogue countries like North Korea decide to wage war when we engage Iraq? If the United States devotes too much power against Iraq, the vacuum of military stability could encourage other ambitious nations to take action. China could attempt to seize Taiwan. North Korea could attack South Korea, the Balkan nations could erupt with renewed war.

This to me is a very dangerous game we are playing with Iraq. And so long as he is alive and well, we can all know that Saddam Hussein will take advantage of these uncertainties to a deadly conclusion.

Beware, we may not know which shoe is on the other foot.

by

Fred Roe
6th January 2003

Topics