Strong Support From The United Nations example essay topic

On 28 January, 2003, George W. Bush tried to rouse U.S. public opinion in favor of action against Iraq when he delivered his second State of the Union address as U.S. president. After I heard all his proposals for war in Iraq, one quote came to mind that reasonably epitomized his entire speech. Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded by patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader and gladly so.

-- Julius Caesar Bush is saying what the people want to hear, but not necessarily what they need to hear. I believe it is out of complete arrogance that we as a nation believe that American interests are more important than the civilian casualties or "collateral damage" of other nations. I, Senator Margaret Santiago (NJ Democrat), am cynical about President Bush's proposals and strongly oppose a war in Iraq. My opposition to war in Iraq does not mean I support Saddam Hussein in any way. I do agree that the world would be better off without the Iraqi dictator. I, however, would support a war if there were an international consensus, if there were strong support from the United Nations.

The president's presentation failed to sway administration critics, like myself, who unanimously say he has yet to make a strong case for going to war at this time, particularly in the absence of U.N. support and with a sputtering economy. I would like to point out that Bush's recounting of Saddam's violations over the past twelve years and alleged atrocities against his own people were a fairly compelling narrative. He did that effectively, but I am not sure there was enough there beyond the narrative to explain to the American people why going to war might be necessary. Iraq has become the foreign-policy equivalent of the Bush tax cut.

Bush was pushing it as a cure-all for all the nation's foreign policy challenges, just as he was suggesting his tax cut proposals would cure the economy's ills. In order to sway the public's opposition to war, an Adlai Stevenson moment must be made, a reference to the dramatic instance in 1962 when America's U.N. ambassador showed photos proving there were nuclear missiles in Cuba. Only then will war be justified along with the United Nations consent.