THe Choice

[PaulYukochan]

How do you choose between killing Iraqi civilians in an attack on Iraq and continuing with the sytem in which they starve as result of UN sanctions. Will the pro war lobby and the anti war lobby both accept that people will in either case?

[WaldoMcFroog]

Many people have argued for years that sanctions affected the poor of Iraq rather than Saddam, his retinues and his regiem.

[PaulYukochan]

I am not sure it is down to one man. Remember that Saddam's son - who by many accounts is even worse than his father, may well take over if saddam is removed. However, i dont accept what tony benn said - that stopping the war, and lifting sanctions - will allow the iraqis to overthrow saddam themselves -he is too well armed and too ready to use his weapons on his own people - as seen on the kurds and southern rebellions after the gulf war

[woodpam]

Why do we have to continue with the same system? If it's not working, why don't we try something else? There are many ways to undermine SH and take his power away bit by bit, and enforcing the role of the weapons inspectors in a very visible way is just one of them. Completely destabilising the country by war has two main problems; firstly a leadership vaccuum is created, allowing chaos or an even worse regime thatn the deposed one to seize power. The second problem is keeping the peace and rebuilding the infrastructure afterwards. War won't end the problems, it will create some new ones, including many displaced refugees. At least we know the problems we face at the moment, can evaluate them sensibly and work out a strategy. Patience should prevail and the long term solution carefully considered.