LTE: U.S. no moral beacon

LTE: U.S. no moral beacon
http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Dec/12282003/public_f/123670.asp

I am having difficulty swallowing the argument that the United States is the moral messiah sent to redeem the world from injustice. With this nation's history of meddling in foreign affairs and supporting dictatorships to suit our political and economic interests, it is rash to assume that liberty and human rights are at the forefront of the war in Iraq.

Saddam Hussein is indeed a wretched human being who gassed his own people in the late '80s. However, the Reagan administration provided him with the political backing and chemical weapons used in this atrocity. Those promoting America's moral clarity overlook this. Hussein's crimes were not even mentioned by the Bush administration as a justification for war until weapons of mass destruction failed to turn up.

North Korea has openly threatened us with nuclear weapons and is run by a ruthless dictator guilty of crimes against his citizens. Why hasn't our moral president proposed invading this nation? Instead, Bush pursues long negotiations with an obstinate North Korean government.

As I recall, we invaded Iraq because our unilateralist president grew weary of negotiations. Why the discrepancy? Perhaps because North Korea has less economic value and a significant military that, unlike Iraq, could prevent the quick battlefield victory needed for the 2004 election.

Until the actions of our nation reflect otherwise, I will be more comfortable labeling this war a political act, not a humanitarian effort.

Phil Brown
Logan

eom

LTE, you make some thoughtful and good points, let's go further into the truth. With a country as varied as ours there will always be opinions to consider and choices to make. I have not heard anyone say that the U.S. should actively go out and save the world each and every time a calamity appears. However, as the U.S. has been the most successfully country in the world since 1945, the responsibilities of that success is what leads us to try our best.
The U.S. did not supply S.Hussein with chemical weapons, Mr. Hussein created WMD, of which chemical weapons are a part of, from world wide trade and oil money. Mr. Hussein has violated every promise made to the U.N. since the end of the first Gulf War. How long would you let this rabid dog run loose among the world? Mr. Hussein has actively supported terrorism and the overthrow of governments financed with his large supply of oil money. This is the main difference between S.Hussein and Kim Jong Il-the other idiot. N. Korea is a very poor country, it does not have the means to finance world-wide terrorism. This is what makes its nuclear program a great matter of concern. North Korea has been obstinate with all nations, including ours during the eight years of the Clinton administration.
Our country is still a light to the world. We have led the, and died for, the noble cause of democracy throughout the world. The U.S. has freed more people from tyranny than any nation on earth. The end of the Nazi's, Japanese imperialism, and communism is due to the United States. As we have been right to end those horrors, so are we right to end the evil of terrorism. Some Democrats have such a hatred of President Bush that this blinds them to our war on terrorism. If such people think this war is so bad, where were your demonstrations during President Clinton's war in the former Yugoslavia.
Our nation is not blight on the world. The generosity of the American people is renown through out the world. The U.S. gives more money to charity than any nation on earth. More people, I believe, have the opportunity to be successfully in the U.S. than in any nation on earth. This is why we have an immigration and not an emigration problem. The United States is not the most perfect beacon, but it is the best light we have.

But the US did supply Saddam with biologicals agents including West Nile and Anthrax during the war with Iran. An image of a letter from the CDC was published by Business Week. Since the US protected Saddam from UN censure for using WMDs, I would call this waging second-hand biological war against Iran.

As far as being a light to the world, you need to step back from the generalities and read some Chomsky. Forget the rhetoric and just pay attention to the careful documentation. The US routinely opposes any attempt at self-determination except if they happen to coincide with US aims. Always has since the birth of the Republic. Maybe no worse than other countries, but certainly no better.