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Ty Garfield Editor in Chief Rep. Jim McDermott addressed a packed house in the Campus Theater on Nov. 4, 2002. The Worldly Philosophers and Dismal Scientists Society invited McDermott in hopes he would share his impressions on the pending war with Iraq. McDermott recently visited Iraq with colleagues from congress and United Nations weapons inspectors. The fact-finding visit solidified McDermott's position on the congressional vote allotting Pres. Bush authority to use military force to disarm the Iraqi military. McDermott ardently opposes war with Iraq. McDermott addressed the American public's need for assurance of domestic security since the terrorist attacks of 9/11. McDermott believes, above all, citizens want sanctity on the home shores from their governing body. To provide the perception of security, McDermott says, the Bush administration needs an act of retribution on a foreign body in the Middle East. The long-vilified President Saddam Hussein is a convenient target due to his long-standing anti-American position. As a measure to obtain the confidence of the voting population, McDermott asserts, the current administration would mislead the public about the potential threat Hussein poses. McDermott voiced this theory prior to departing for Iraq. Upon arrival, McDermott was questioned about the comment, his patriotism and loyalty. McDermott feels the patriot has a responsibility to question the practices of government, particularly in times of war. McDermott likens Iraqi aggression to the slight of hand of a street-corner magician. "As long as people are fixated on what is going on here (in Iraq), they are not watching what is going on here, with the economy and domestic issues," McDermott illustrates. McDermott believes military action against Iraq would only perpetuate the image of the U.S. as the "bully on the block." McDermott characterized the position of the small portion of the government who wants a war with Iraq. "We are the richest, most powerful and we have the most nuclear weapons - we have the most of everything," McDermott imitates, "and we will tell all the rest of you what is going to happen." The World Policy Analysis for the United States demonstrates this position. This document released in Sept. Lays-out Bush's designs on world domination. McDermott believes the empirical position described in the analysis is similar to that of Elizabethan England or Ancient Rome. McDermott discussed potential consequences of war with Iraq. Aggression against the Iraqi people would surrender the moral authority of the U.S. For example, if the Russian military were to invade the Georgian region engaging the Chechens the U.S. would be unable to oppose. "Why not?" McDermott poses "Because, we will have done the same thing in Iraq." McDermott also believes an invasion would further destabilize the Middle East. Palestinians fear the Israelis would use the opportunity of an U.S. presence in Iraq to invade the West Bank expelling Muslims into Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. These countries have minority governments as it is; adding additional parties to the mix is a formula for political unrest. In addition to a political blue chip at home, McDermott believes, the Bush administration has set its eyes on the oil fields of Iraq. With domestic reserves dwindling and a rapacious appetite for oil, wealthy U.S. companies would benefit from access to the Kurdish oil fields in the northeast and southeast of Iraq. But this oil will come with a dire cost to the Iraqi people. During his visit to Iraq McDermott met a nurse who questioned the U.S. motives in Iraq. "Why should we trust you now?" the nurse asks. "Years ago you promised to oust Hussein. Instead you've punished us for 12 years." The food-for-oil program, in which the regime may exchange its oil reserves for food to feed the population, has made the citizens of Iraq dependant on Hussein to survive. Once a highly industrialized nation, Iraq now lacks basic needs such as sewage systems, a national communications network and an electrical grid. These necessities were the targets of bombing raids in the Gulf War of 1991. "Why not just start the bombing?" the nurse continued. "We survived it then and we will survive it now." The nurse illustrates the resolve of Iraqi citizens who have overcome their obstacles. McDermott postulates the Iraqi citizens will fight alongside Hussein's army in an effort to protect their sovereignty from American aggression. The president's pursuit of war with Iraq contradicts the findings of experts such as George Tennant of the CIA and U.N. weapons inspector, Scott Ridder, who voiced their opinions that Iraq neither posses nor has the capacity to produce weapons of mass destruction. McDermott encouraged the audience to vote, contact representation in Washington D.C. and organize demonstrations in opposition to the war effort. McDermott punctuated the idea of participatory government by saying, "I myself have no power to do anything. My power resides in you." © 2002 Shoreline Community College™ |