September 24, 2002
Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor:
On the face of it, the Bush Administration’s stated intention to take unilateral military action against Iraq, regardless of the United Nations, indicates a willingness to violate international law. The cornerstone of international law on such questions is the Charter of the United Nations, specifically Article 51 which reads: “Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain inter- national peace and security…”
The United States has not been under “armed attack” by Iraq nor has the UN Security Council, to date, authorized such a mandate for a US assault. Additionally, to argue that the US has the right of a “preemptive strike” necessarily involves the principle of self-defense. In the absence of the provocation of an Iraqi attack on the US, the Administration must provide substantial evidence that shows that Iraq is presently planning an assault on the United States. Aside from mere rhetoric, no evidence has been forthcoming that shows that an attack is either imminent or planned for some distant future. Indeed, much of the talk is ludicrous in the light of Iraq’s debilitated military infrastructure.
Without a serious threat to our security, a unilateral, unprovoked military onslaught would be deeply immoral as well. Any assault potent enough to overthrow the regime of Saddam Hussein is inevitably going to kill and maim thousands of innocent Iraqi citizens, men, women and children, particularly if an invasion involves heavy fighting in cities such as Baghdad.
In the end, if we insist that we have the right to trump international law and “go it alone” without moral justification and regardless of international opinion, western and otherwise, then we will be the rogue state, showing by our example that neither international law nor basic decency are to be respected when strategic interests, in this case, oil, are at stake.
Sincerely,
Michael O’Loughlin
Associate Professor of Political Science
Salisbury University
116 Elizabeth Street (home address)
Phone: 742-2560