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March 19th was the third anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. The stated rationale for going to war in Iraq was that this state possessed weapons of mass destruction and that its government had ties to terrorists who would harm the United States. It was argued that these weapons of mass destruction would eventually be given to terrorists to use against the United States, and thus it would be an act of self-defense to preemptively invade Iraq to stop this transfer of weapons. However, as we have learned since, there were no weapons of mass destruction, and there were no strategic Iraqi ties to Al-Qaida. In addition, the United Nations did not deem our cause for war valid; a preemptive war could not be considered as self-defense. This war is illegal and unjust.
Now the cause for war has changed. We are told we invaded Iraq for freedom. We have removed its dictator and have made steps to put a democratic constitution in place, but a civil war has now been unleashed. I do not wish to say that the war is wrong or should be condemned because it failed its objectives – it is wrong and should be condemned because it is and has always been an immoral use of aggressive force, but the way our government has shifted its explanation of the war and abandoned rationales which did not work out, shows that they were false objectives.
This war was fought for geopolitical concerns: to secure energy resources for a future where nations like China are increasing oil consumption at a remarkable rate and oil is likely to become scarce, and to create an ally in the Middle East to act as a proxy for the United States. Ted Koppel remarked on “Meet the Press” that we relied on the Shah of Iran as our proxy – who we installed with a coup – until 1979, and then moved our support to the House of Saud in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is becoming a less secure ally, as can be seen by the fact that the majority of the Sept. 11 attackers hail from that country, and so the United States made a calculated effort to create another ally. This war was not fought for freedom or the immediate protection of Americans. Those were subterfuges for the real concerns, and they are strategic, cold, and heartless. This war is illegal and unjust.
Now Iraq is in a civil war, and our military presence is not helping the situation and may be exacerbating it. We are building permanent military bases in Iraq and occupying a foreign country. Whatever the solution to stabilize Iraq and create self-determination, it is not our occupation. What’s more, the devastation around New Orleans has shown how much our own country needs aid and support, and yet hundreds of billions have gone to funding our invasion of Iraq. Our presence in Iraq has serious effects upon us in the United States, and the misplaced priorities of our government are seen in our foreign and domestic policies. The Maine Peace Action Committee will be holding a rally with speakers and food on Friday, March 24 between the Union and Fogler Library from 12:00 to 1:00 pm Come show your opposition to our illegal invasion and harmful occupation of Iraq.
Tristan Quinn-Thibodeau is a member of the Maine Peace Action Committee
