Iraq 1 Iraq's Weapons Of Mass Destruction example essay topic

There is conflict within us. Should we go to war with Iraq? It's a question with great room for answer. In past relations with Iraq we have invaded the country. The Persian Gulf War (Desert Storm conflict.) When Iraq invaded and occupied the country of Kuwait in August 1990, the Bush administration was faced with several dilemmas.

From a foreign policy point of view, this action could greatly destabilize the balance of power in a part of the world that was vital to U.S. interests. The United States was dependent on a continuous flow of oil to drive its economic machine, which Kuwait supplied greatly. In addition, this move would put more power into the hands of a government that was not only unfriendly to the U.S., but a sworn enemy of the state of Israel, a strong U.S. ally. In addition to, the fall of communism had created what George Bush had described as, "A new world order", and would become the first major test of how the U.S. would handle its role as the sole remaining super power in this "new world order". There were many challenges facing the Bush administration as to the manner in which they would handle this first major international crisis.

The Bush administration had to develop a consensus of the major remaining powers, and appear not acting alone in its response to President Saddam Hussein's actions of invading Kuwait. They also yearned to keep Israel from being involved so as not to alienate the remaining Middle Eastern nations. Lastly, they faced a domestic dilemma, in that much of the American public had significant reservations about involving U.S. troops involved in a foreign conflict. Now in the present with allegations of President Saddam Hussein stockpiling weapons of mass destruction, the same question is asked. Should U.S. troops be sent to Iraq?

Reasons not to invade Iraq 1) There Is No Justification for Going to War. What was Iraq's act of aggression against us that justifies war? There has been no attack on the US, no Iraqi threat of war, no Iraqi connection to September 11. War should be a last recourse of self-defense, a step to be taken only when all other alternatives have been exhausted. What the Bush Administration is planning is an act of aggression, not an act of self-defense. The international coalition that fought the first Gulf War was cemented by the principle that one country cannot invade another without provocation.

Now the White House is poised to dismiss the coalition to launch an unprovoked invasion of Iraq. This would violate the US's historic policy against using force preemptively. We should not go to war against a distant country that has not attacked us. 2) Iraq Does Not Pose a Clear and Present Danger The White House says we should invade Iraq to prevent Saddam Hussein from using weapons of mass destruction. But during the 1990's United Nations weapons inspectors dismantled all of Iraq's major chemical, biological and nuclear weapons facilities and destroyed nearly all of Iraq's weapons and long-range missiles.

In terms of conventional arms, Iraq's military is now at one-third of its pre-Gulf War strength. According to Ex-Marine and former UN Weapons Inspector Scott Ritter, Iraq presents "absolutely nothing" of a military threat. And given Hussein's natural desire for self-preservation, it is highly unlikely he would launch any attack that would result in his destruction. Since deterrence is working, why should the US start a bloody war that would undoubtedly lead to massive human suffering?

3) When It Comes to Invading Iraq, the US Has Few Allies The international community supports sending weapons inspectors to Iraq to disarm Saddam Hussein's regime, but it does not support the White House's goal of "regime change". Many countries in the Middle East are opposed to a war with Iraq. Our allies in Europe think an invasion is foolhardy. Anti-war marches in England and Italy have drawn hundreds of thousands of people.

An invasion of Iraq would isolate the US from the rest of the world and shatter the principles of international cooperation and mutual defense that are key to US and global security. Reasons to invade Iraq 1) Iraq's weapons of mass destruction: chemical, biological, and nuclear Iraq has not fully complied with the demands of U. N Inspectors. Saddam Hussein has been caught red handed with tools to in rich uranium. He has been caught leading convoys of trucks out the back door of complexes that U. N inspectors have gone to inspect. The bottom line is that Saddam has been caught lying in the past and it will not cease in the future. 2) Iraq's alleged ties to the al Qaeda terrorist group There is evidence of al Qaeda members taking refuge in northern Iraq.

On April 2001 there was a meeting in Prague between Sept. 11 hijacker Mohammed Atta and an Iraqi intelligence agent. Connecting them directly together. Its not the first time that Iraq has planned terrorist attacks against the U.S. the CIA believes that the last time Iraq planned an anti-American attack was in April 1993, when it organized a failed assassination plot against former president George H.W. Bush during a visit to Kuwait. It's a way for Iraq to keep their hands clean and draw attention away from them. 3) Saddam Hussein is a war criminal There is little doubt that Saddam Hussein is indeed a war criminal.

Gassing of the Kurds in 1988 we know for certain that the Kurds were bombarded with poison gas in Halabja. The casualties in Halabja were reportedly caused by cyan [o] gen chloride, or Mustard gas the casualties in the town were caused by Iraqi weapons. Saddam Hussein is a monster, a maniac who gassed his own people, and the world shouldn't tolerate him.