Drums of War, Calls for Peace: How Should the Left Respond to a U.S. War Against Iraq?
Rule, James B.
IDO NOT SUPPORT an American attack against Iraq under current conditions. Such an attack would be justified only with a broad spectrum of international support, based on a convincing consensus...
...I most definitely favor aggressive UN inspections, even if they have to be implemented under military force...
...Such actions could include unannounced visits to suspect sites, under force—provided such moves indeed had broad UN backing...
...As with any dangerous, repressive regime, the aim with Iraq should be to create the strongest disincentives to misbehavior (through positive and negative multilateral sanctions) and to promote alternative political forces to the present regime, both inside and outside its boundaries...
...The Bush doctrine of preemptive war is frightening...
...One might make the identical statement, however, for any number of other dangerous states around the world—including some U.S...
...In this case it would be particularly important not to give any support or comfort to those who sympathize with or excuse the Iraqi regime...
...Both disarmament and regime change are worthy objectives where Iraq is concerned...
...DISSENT / Winter 2003 n 13...
...In short, our long-term goal should be to contain the regime, until such time as the successors to Hussein are prepared to reenter the world community...
...Such an attack would be justified only with a broad spectrum of international support, based on a convincing consensus of imminent and extraordinary danger...
...It aims precisely at undermining significant and valuable potentials for development of multilateral, or indeed global, security systems—as I argued in the Fall 2002 issue of Dissent ("Dissenting from the American Empire...
...JAMES B. RULE'S latest book is Computing in Organizations: Myth and Experience...
...allies...
...No one has provided a convincing explanation as to why Iraq is to be singled out within this rogues' gallery...
...As in any collective action, participation in such a movement would require distinguishing one's own convictions and motives from those of other participants...
...A response of this kind would not only help defuse the situation in Iraq, but would also provide valuable precedent, if and when similar actions become necessary in future risky situations...
...The Bush doctrine seeks to extend American ukase all around the world, whereas we ought to be seeking ways for attenuating all national sovereignties in favor of collective global decision-making...
...If war comes without fulfillment of the conditions cited above, I would certainly be public in my opposition to it...
Vol. 50 • January 2003 • No. 1
