Drums of War, Calls for Peace: How Should the Left Respond to a U.S. War Against Iraq?
Hoffmann, Stanley
IWOULD ONLY support an American war against the current Iraqi regime if (1) the current regime blocks inspections and refuses to carry out its obligations to disarm and a renewed and reinforced...
...DISSENT / Winter 2003 n I I...
...IWOULD ONLY support an American war against the current Iraqi regime if (1) the current regime blocks inspections and refuses to carry out its obligations to disarm and a renewed and reinforced policy of blockade, sanctions and deterrence has failed and (2) the use of force is supported by the Security Council of the UN...
...I do favor both a UN-imposed inspection system for Iraq and the threat or use of force to impose and sustain such a system...
...If there is a unilateral or quasi-unilateral decision by the United States to go to war in Iraq, I would join an antiwar movement as long as it is a responsible, independent peace movement...
...The Bush administration's new doctrine of preemptive war would violate international law (including, of course, the UN Charter), be a recipe for chaos (if also adopted by many, or by dangerous countries), and mark a huge regression in international affairs...
...2) demonstrate before any use of force that the old notions of containment and deterrence are still relevant...
...The long-term goals of the United States in its confrontation with Iraq should be (1) to disarm Iraq, not because it wants to become a nuclear power and "hates our values" but because it has so far violated its obligations to disarm after the Gulf War...
...and (3) act in such a way that the territorial integrity of Iraq is preserved, and that a majority of Muslim states supports our policies...
...STANLEY HOFFMANN is the Paul and Catherine Buttonwieser University Professor and former chair of the Center for European Studies, Harvard University...
...It should not be a war for regime change...
Vol. 50 • January 2003 • No. 1
