Iraq invasion will threaten national security, strain US World standing
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. David Bonior, D-Michigan, said today that an invasion of Iraq will only further threaten national security by splintering the broad international coalition against terrorism and fueling more extremist passions against America.
The congressman -- who returned Tuesday from a five-day trip to Iraq -- also said little discussion is being devoted to the humanitarian crisis facing innocent Iraqi civilians following years of economic sanctions -- a challenge America will have a moral responsibility to deal with, regardless of a regime change.
"I think we have to be very cognizant of what war will unleash on the world," Bonior said. "There are important questions about the safety of our people in America as well as justice abroad. The world is a very fragile place today and going to war threatens everything. We strike first -- what kind of message does that send to India, Pakistan and other nations in South Asia? It will break up our coalition with Arab nations that we need in the effort against Al-Queda. I am very disheartened by the fact that people have not been addressing the implications that war will have on our broader national security concerns."
Bonior and U.S. Reps. Jim McDermott, D-Washington., and U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-California, were part of a delegation that traveled to Iraq to press upon the Iraqis the need for unrestricted, unfettered UN weapons inspections and to gain insight into the dangerous implications a unilateral, preemptive strike would have on U.S. national interests. The trip was organized by the Interfaith Network of Concern for the People of Iraq, a project of the Church Council of Greater Seattle, and LIFE for Relief and Development, a Michigan charity organization licensed by the United States and the United Nations to administer aid in Iraq.
The group met with United Nations and Iraqi officials, repeatedly stressing the need for the weapons inspections. They also visited many sites - including the largest children's cancer ward, a water filtration plant and an oil-for-food distribution site - and talked with numerous Iraqi citizens about the "truly disturbing humanitarian problems" in the country, Bonior said.
"The Iraqi people suffer under a brutal dictatorship and they suffer under the most inhumane sanctions regime ever put in place. We must act to alleviate the anguish," Bonior said. "To ignore it or worse, to begin another war, will only deepen the mistrust of America and further complicate the effort to root out terrorism."
Topics: Conflicts And War, Homeland Security, Iraq War, National Security
Views: 1990
Related Suggestions
GW brought nothing new to the American Foriegn Policy, Since the United States Gave it's promise to The Zionist in Israel in 1947, WE as Muslims And Arabs should expect nothing less than what's happening today.
We are to blame to what is about to happen to the Iraqis, We are to blame to what is happening to Muslims everywhere (By WE i mean Muslims), Allah and his Prophet laid the platform To conducting relations with non-muslims. We know what America is all About no matter what George Washington Said. It's all about interest, America can't use the same standard with Israel because they will be "whipped", they can't afford doing it,because Jews won't let them...on the other hand America has nothing to fear from the Muslims and Arabs ,and it wouldn't think twice before murdering Muslims, Why? Because we let them....
Let's go back to the basics and stop fooling our selves, back what Allah loves and his Prophet foretold...let's hold dear to that,Then and maybe then Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala will decide to answer our Prayer...
GW not only insults the intelligance of Muslims but also that of the American people when he says that America HAS and MUST do this for it's security, i mean come on who is he kidding.
GW needs to wake up and smell the mess this country is in...after he does, trust me he'll realize that Iraq and it's people are the last he should be thinking about..
Wants to bring Peace and Justice to the Iraqis..Pleeeeeeaaase, isn't that what he said about Afghanistan??!! And isn't afghanistan still a mess??????
La Hawla Wa La Quata Illa Billaah...
I'm about to throw up in this joint...
Assalamu alaikum
As for you "Esther" I dont belong to "the group of people who fly planes into buildings" Indeed most of the people who oppose this war arent. However I do know that you belong to the group of intolerant group of religious fanatics who cry foul at dissent. Do yourself a favor, stick to your regimen of geritol and Andy Griffith reruns.
You psudeo patriots obviously dont care for international law, human rights or any other norms unless ofcourse it serves your selfish interests. No better than pavolian canines paying tribute to the corporate crook-in-chief.
"Madmax" aka "Anonymous" you cant come up with facts so now you're down to silly defensive insults. How truly typical. There is only 1 country in the Middleeast that has nuclear and biological weapons and its NOT Iraq. You just want oil and no matter how many innocents die.....as long as your cowardly hide is safe back at home.
As for "esther" pick up the wrinkles of your eyes. I see your borderline racism is up and running as usual, guess your medications havent kicked in. You obviously belong to the same group of nutcases who are trying to jump start "armageddon" in the Middleeast by supporting war and terrorism against innocents. Christian fundamentalist messinaic cultists whose behavior is totally oppposite to that of the historical Christ.
Let me make it clear again to you chickenhawks - You have NO case, you have NO evidence, what you do have is arrogance and weapons of mass destruction which you are willing to point at anyone who doesnt pay homage to the failed coroprate crook at the helm.
Chew on that and choke on the facts you immoral war pimps.
As "Anonymous" firmly stated "The United Nations needs to learn that you cannot let terrorism go on". That's right, it's about time the UN gets it, we are in charge here, we have been conducting legal global terrorism for a half-century now and the UN should understand that it should leave that to our experienced men and women.
I regret "Counter Spinner" but I must disagree with you; GWB is not a failed corporate crook since he was (s)elected to lead the largest Corporation in the world, and whose primary Products and Services "BOMBS and DEATH" ladies and gentlemen, satisfaction guaranteed o your money back...to US. Hey! GWB is even working overtime for a hostile takeover of UN, Inc. whose stock prices are at all time low.
Aren't you impressed with "Anonymous" writing style, I can see a book project on the way like Mao's Red Book, Nixon's Blue Book, Qaddafi's Green Book, Anonymous Brown Book (very familiar color).
Don't you see that "Anonymous" is right about S.H. by saying "He is nothing but a NO good terrorist" at least we have one "good terrorist" his/her president, after all his/her good terrorist is doing a better job by keeping at least some fellow Americans employed full time unlike Corporate America who just keeps phasing out jobs and cheating the stock market. At least he's meeting the quarterly numbers and the (live)stock holders seem happy. http://www.vickysjokes.com/funny/dumies.asp
.../...
You war pimps are a joke. You dont give a damn about the Iraqi people, so dont give us your fake sincerity. If you cared about them, why not voice opposition to the genocidal sanctions ?! The sanctions have killed more Iraqis than Saddam ever did. The gas Saddam used was supplied by the US. NOt to mention he was best buds with Reagan and Bush jr. until he outlived his usefulness.
Iraq has no connection to 9/11 and you know it....this is simply an excuse to go after the second largest reservoir of oil in the world. You lunatics are the true terrorists of this world. You have no credibility, no case, certainly no morals and your president is failed corporate crook.
If this be democracy, it is the democracy of fear the world can do without!
Wars are vote pullers that every US president has used as a decoy from the internal mess in the US.
Congratulation to all the 3 Congressmen for their hard effort and standing for truth,peace and justice for Iraqi people ,though everything from media to politicians were not in favour of their visit as it reveals the truth and suffering of innocent Iraqi people only becuase of Sanctions it is time for all Congressmen to realize what sanctions had made and done and all Congressmen should stand now to life the sanctions on Iraq instead of declaring a devastating war which will not hurt the dictator saddam but will add more miseries and casualties of innnocent Iragi civilians