CAPTITAL TIMES, September 12, 1990
VICKI'S
VOICE...
Although the White House may have been surprised when Iraq invaded Kuwait on
August 2, there was no unmanageable crisis at this point. Iraq invaded and occupied
Kuwait on two other occasions in the past and withdrew both times. President Bush
acted too hastily by sending in American troops--adding more hostility to the
"crisis."
On this third invasion of Kuwait we had a dictator, Saddam Hussein, that most
Arabs despised because of his repressive cruelty and violation of an understood rule--
one Arab country does not commit aggression against another Arab country.
At this point, several face-saving alternatives existed because of unanimity at the
United Nations on condemning Iraq's aggression against Kuwait and on economic
sanctions. Near unanimity in the Arab league and the fact that there were no hostages
and no risk of war added to the options.
Then President Bush presented a public ultimatum to Iraq and poured in the
American troops--the worst course of action. This allowed Saddam Hussein to shift
the focus of his aggression to U.S. imperialism and placed 12,000 hostages--3,000
Americans--into the dictator's hands. Arab leaders had the option of choosing between
a repressive dictator or the United States. The latter choice would endow Arab leaders
with the appearance of being paid pawns of the U.S.
President Bush tried to Americanize a conflict in an area where wounds of
colonialism are still open. Yes, Bush backed Hussein into a corner, but he also
backed himself into the opposite corner. If Hussein withdraws, he appears to be
caving into American pressure and would probably be overthrown by his own army.
However, if Iraq does not withdraw President Bush loses face...and leads the U.S. into
a war.
The many scenarios that could occur are all damaging to U.S interests. War is a
crime against humanity that involves the unavoidable slaughter of innocent people.
Iraqis who have no control over Iraqi policy will die and American soldiers who have
no control over President Bush's decision will die. Innocent civilians will die while
their wealth turns to ashes and dust; their economies will be ravaged. Our American
soldiers will be thrust into the killing fields while Iraqi soldirs will be fighting a
"holy war."
War is justifiable only as a last resort--when not going to war leads to extreme
and intolerable consequences. The Persian Gulf situation does not meet these
qualifications. Even if Bush's worst rationalizations are realized and Hussein invades
Saudi Arabia, what would be the extreme and intolerable consequences?
The flow of oil would not stop, because it is worthless until it is sold. The
consumer for this natural resource is industrialized western nations. Despite the recent
propaganda, the Persian Gulf does not pump enough oil to dictate world prices--
market forces determine prices.
Furthermore, Hussein and other Arab oil producers know that keeping the oil
flowing and maintaining reasonable prices are in their own self-interests. Higher
prices will force consumers to find alternative sources of energy--certain disaster for
Arab nations since they have no other resources like western nations to support their
economy. We have been dependent on other countries for oil to support our addiction
to the resource for too long. Maybe this "crisis" will finally influence the U.S. to
spend some of our tax dollars on finding alternatives to our dependance instead of
using our money to send our troops to a desert--awaiting disaster.
OPEC has already agreed to raise oil production enough to make up for the loss
from the boycott placed on Iraqi and Kuwaiti oil by the United Nations. This will
fend off possibilities of world shortages and help ease the pressure on prices at the
pumps.
While oil prices have not become unmanageable, the American deficit has.
President Bush's belligerent Persian Gulf policy added to our economic mess in the
U.S. Our allies have made multi-billion-dollar requests to help support us over-seas.
However, rising oil prices continue pushing our economy closer to a
recession...closer to having the U.S. get out its tin cup and beg other countries for
support.
Fighting a war to prevent Hussein from controlling the Persian Gulf is not
justifiable or in the United States' best interst. The American people should demand
the White House to diffuse the situation before we see a real crisis. If American
citizens worry about paying high prices for oil now, what about when war breaks
out? War will completely stop the flow of oil and replace it with a blood flow.
Instead of watching our American soldiers die, we could easily pay a few cents extra
for oil.
OPINIO
Victoria. Cuscino
Editor-in-Chief
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