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There was a debate last night at Georgetown University on the Iraq war, sponsored by the Muslim Students Association and several other groups including the College Republicans. Stephen Zunes and Mark Lance represented the anti-war side while a professor from the Georgetown's security studies program and a heritage foundation fellow represented the pro-war. The whole thing was shown on CSpan , and a tape is available from them. Below are comments made by Mark Lance. In the movie Casablanca, the inimitable Claude Rains, a gambling prefect, closes down Rick’s Café at the request of the Nazis, stating that, “I am shocked, shocked to find that gambling is taking place at this café.” The U.S., it seems, is also shocked, shocked to find that Saddam Hussein is seeking weapons of mass destruction. Consider this. 1. The U.S.A. possesses roughly half the world’s supply of nuclear weapons. 2. The U.S.A. is responsible for over half of the world’s arms trade. 3. The U.S.A. has done more than any other country to develop and disseminate weapons of mass destruction. 4. The U.S.A. has often been aligned with local despotic regimes. 5. The U.S.A. is the major financial support for Israel, which possesses some 200 nuclear weapons and has violated more UNSC resolutions than any other country. Shocked, indeed. Suppose we eliminate Saddam Hussein. Hypocrisy notwithstanding, isn’t that better than allowing one more tyrant with advanced weaponry free reign? Oddly, the answer is no. Our hypocrisy creates enemies, particularly among those who suffer because of it. If we do invade Iraq, killing tens of thousands of innocent civilians along the way, who will be blamed for this? Saddam Hussein? Only in the U.S. Others understand our motives and see through the moralistic rhetoric to the economic reality behind our policies. That will not decrease the willingness to support terrorism. Quite the opposite. The entire debate taking place at the UN – over unilateralism, the details of inspections, and the precise conditions of invasion – is myopic. The choice facing the U.S., and the United Nations, is not between containment and invasion. It is between hypocrisy and consistency. Consistency is not merely good morals; it is good policy. We can try to police, imprison, and monitor the world. We can forever invade last month’s ally in order to destroy last month’s arms shipment. Or we can build a world free of weapons of mass destruction and arms sales, a world of verification and human rights, a world where everyone has a chance at a decent life. We can offer a Marshall Plan instead of a martial plan. That is our choice. A great deal depends on it. Mark Lance associate professor of philosophy associate professor of justice and peace Georgetown University (for identification only) "Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul" -Edward Abbey "We must be the change we wish to see in the world" -Mahatma Gandhi "The means by which we live have outdistanced the ends for which we live. Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men." Martin Luther King, Jr., in "Strength to Love" Help stop slaughter of Yellowstone bison: http://www.wildrockies.org/buffalo _____________________________________________________________ Help save rainforest or feed orphaned chimpanzees with Redjellyfish Long Distance! http://www.redjellyfish.com/longdistance _________________________________________________________________ Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963 _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk