Letter: Playing the role of world police

Monday, Oct. 14, 2002 | 9:01 a.m.

Among all of the arguments that have been expressed both for and against attacking Iraq, one truth is stunningly clear: The leaders of the greatest nation in the world are preparing to invade a soverign nation with the questionable rationale of "war for peace."

No matter that the U.S. supported Iraq for seven years in its war with Islamic fundamentalist Iran led by the Ayatollah Kohemini; no matter that in terms of education and treatment of women, Iraq has been the most progressive Islamic nation in the region; no matter that far more dangerous countries like China and Russia and Pakistan, rich with al-Qaida sympathizers, have weapons of mass destruction; no matter that the Middle East is already unstable and that Afghanistan is on the fringe of anarchy daily.

Our president wants to further destabilize the region for the purpose of bringing stability to it. Ironically, all of this saber-rattling is being done in the name of a "war on terrorism," which is sure to create larger schools for terrorists than ever.

And who is supposed to run Iraq, and at what cost, when U.S. taxpayers are finally presented with the bill? Years ago, philosopher and writer George Santanaya wrote that those who ignore the lessons of history will have to relive them.

We were wrong in Vietnam where we feared the domino theory, and we are wrong here, where we have been told to fear the terrorist theory. America has always stood for enlightened leadership and fair play, but these days it seems our elected officials prefer the role of world police.

JOHN ESPERIAN