Iraq is a moral obligation we must deal with. As Nelson Rockefeller once put it: Before the world, America is not only a power, but a promise. The United States being the only remaining super-power, has a unique position to preserve and spread freedom through out our world. Many Americans are quick to counter, that America in the past has done a poor job at fulfilling that roll. Yet, one must consider that we have limited resources, and it is a big world with many problems that need to be dealt with. We certainly can not conqueror the whole world at once. We have to make choices and budget our resources. Our military is powerful, but we certainly do not want to over extend it with issues that have little effect on American's lives. In general, we decide war is neccessary only when it serves a noble cause and it benifits us.

Liberating Iraq is a noble cause. It's people live under a tyranical and abusive dictator, Saddam Hussein. He denies his people the most basic 'human' rights, that all modern countries agree are important. He even has abused his peoples in the most horrific ways, as noted by President Bush's speech. We have the chance to knock this evil person down, and replace him with a democracy that respects human rights. We can free whole peoples, and forever change a whole country for the better.Invading Iraq will give us other 'fringe' benefits. to the United States. It will improve our national and world security and will lower our prices at the pump by increasing supply. Lower oil prices might be the real reason for attacking now. Yet, the desire for low oil prices should be considered in the full context of us also freeing a people and reducing the terrorist threat.

Many of the protestors are quickly suggesting this war is about 'oil for blood'. Catchy line, something people will remember. It seems to go good with Dick Cheney's oil company experience too. Nobody will deny getting a more friendly government in Iraq will lower oil prices or that this is a bad thing. It is however, a secondary purpose for Iraq. Iraq is much like Vietnam, few people will deny our fight in Vietnam did not have a noble purpose, at least at first. Condemning a whole people to totalarian communism, was a terrible thing. Yet, it also was in our best interest to prevent communism from spreading.

Is Time Running Out?

Nobody likes to wait, guessing what is going to happen next. The potential war in Iraq has put a real drag on the economy, not to mention society as a whole. Everybody sits and waits for something to happen. Diplomacy is slow. Through inspections take time to do. The world community can not act quickly. So we all watch and wait. Our economy continues to sag, and our world seems to drag down. It seems like it's gotten worst, now that it is coming clear that damning evidence is becoming harder and harder to find. Not to mention, the military build-up can't continue forever. This war or non-war is already costing Americans big bucks. In the form of taxes, temporarly lost firefighters, cops, prision guards and other workers. The longer we wait, the more the cost increae.

However, it seems like going alone, just won't work. It's not at all pratical. I'm a realist, I know we need the world to help defray the costs of 'freeing' Iraq. As much as sitting around and dilberating with the world seems slow and messy, the alternative of charging it all to the US and England simply is not attractive.

National Security: The Homeland and Abroad

Dealing with Iraq will help with one possible threat. Keeping weapons of mass destruction out of this rather crazy guy, is nothing short of important. He does many things that are or could be potentially scary, not just for us, but the whole world. The evidence suggests that the stuff he does, many very well pose a threat to us. He seems not to be totally open to inspections, while the security council and US says he must be. He should do his damnest to avoid war, after all the burden of proof is on him this time.

With all the problems Saddam poses, we should remember security starts at the homeland. Our government should deal with domestic problems first, including ensuring states have enough money to protect their most valuable assets not just from terror, but from many different problems. A forest or farm that is destroyed by suburban housing is just as bad as a terrorist attack. It is the destruction of American property, by non-American forces. We should be concerned about protecting ourselves first.

Tony Blair: Maybe You Can Get A Bush Cabinet Position

Tony Blair has worked hard to be friends with President Bush, going out on a limb to support him, even in the worst of times. This may be one of them. It seems the British Labour is very much divided on the issue of Iraq. Many support the United States, but a larger number of people in his party are against invading Iraq. Watching the protests on TV in Britian, seems to show that his public support is falling apart, with the big anti-war ralleys of today.

Is he committing political sucide? Remember, in Britian it's a lot easier for public confidence to decline in a leader, and have a party elect a new member or end up losing colition support, and have a need for new parlimentary elections. It seems as though Tony Blair is making a real foolish mistake supporting invading Iraq, when he lacks strong public support behind him.

Anti-War Protestors: Those Dirty Hippies

As a Nixonite, it is easy to despise many radicals, especially those who spend a lot of time protesting, yet little time serving or otherwise working to improve their country. How many protestors really understand how government works, and what the real stakes are in this war? Carry your pretty banners around, wear your freakish long hair. Talk about how your Peace and Freedom, Green and Libertarian Party supports the right thing. Nobody really cares about you folks. Half of you are probably to apathetic to vote. Much less try to write, call, or meet with your representives in a profesional, honest and helpful manner.

You can go to the streets, cause a riot. But can you really solve the problems with Iraq? Cut your hair, buy a suit. Read the papers and books on the problems we face today. Maybe you'll come up with some kind of really brilliant idea, that you can write your congressman about. If it's really good, it might forever change the course of history. He may have to change his position a result of your evidence. Protestors try to get more attention then they deserve. Why should their interests be represented in any discussion of Iraq then any other sector of the public? This gets down to Nixon's silent majority idea, and wondering what the vast majority of Americans really think, when hecklers screaming finally shut up.