Orwell knew
Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 475
Location: Mid-Missouri |
Worshipping The Prince of Peace, or Preemptive War?
 Sun Mar 12, 2006 4:07 pm
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Our Endangered Values-America's Moral Crisis
Jimmy Carter
For months after the terrible terrorist attack in 2001, the American people were inundated almost daily with the claims from top government officials that we faced a devastating threat from Irag's weapons of mass destruction or from large and well-organized cadres of terrorists hiding in our country.
But as was emphasized vigorously by foreign allies and key members of our own intelligence services, there was never any existing danger to the United States from Baghdad. It was obvious that with the U.N. sanctions, intense weapons inspections, and overwhelming American military superiority, any belligerent move by Saddam Hussein against a neighbor, an overt display of a weapon of mass destruction, or sharing of such technology with terrorist organizations would have been suicidal for Iraq. Iraq's weapons programs had already been reduced to impotence before the war was launched to eliminate them.
If Saddam Hussein had actually possessed a large nuclear, biological, or chemical arsenal, then the American invasion would have resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties, many of them U.S. troops. There is no evidence that the British or American leaders really expected or prepared for this eventuality.
We cannot ignore the development of such weapons in any potential enemy nation or organization, but unilateral military action based on erroneous or deliberately distorted intelligence is not the answer.
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Jimmy Carter cont'd
Americans cherish the greatness of our homeland, but many do not realize how extensive and profound are the transformations that are now taking places in our nation's basic moral and political philosophy.
Our people have been justifiably proud to see America's power and influence used to preserve peace for ourselves and others, promote economic and social justice, raise high the banner of human rights, protect the quality of our environment, alleviate human suffering, and cooperate with other peoples to reach common goals.
We have learned the value of providing our citizens with accurate information and treating dissenting voices with respect. Most of our political leaders have attempted to control deficit spending, preserve the separation of church and state, and protect civil liberties and personal privacy.
All of these historic commitments are now being challenged.
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