The War Against Iraq

To the Editors:

The possibility of war in Iraq is a dangerous thing. It threatens the Middle East, an already volatile region, with greater instability. Viewed from any standpoint, this war will have drastic consequences. It has implications for the Palestinian/Israeli conflict: like in 1991, if Iraq is attacked by the US., they will surely target citizens of Israel, the US’s closest ally in the region. Seeking to protect this interest, the US would assist in an Israeli military build-up which places Palestinians at grave risk. Additionally, war against Iraq can only threaten Bush’s “War on Terrorism.” As one military official said, “an attack on Iraq will super-charge recruitment for Al-Qaeda.”
More than ten years of constant bombing has decimated an Iraqi infrastructure that was already destroyed in 1991. A full scale war will only further demolish the country. But most importantly, we must consider the consequences war will have on the Iraqi people. US foreign policy poses a grave and imminent danger to them. A decade of sanctions has claimed the life of thousands of Iraqis, and war will only take more. If US military tactics in Afghanistan are any indication, we can expect thousands more Iraqis to perish as a result of “collateral damage.” George W. Bush was correct in the 2000 presidential campaign when he said that the US should not be in the business of nation building. Instead, with the policies of his administration, we are engaged in nation-destroying.
Historically, Oberlin College as an institution has taken a position on social an political issues, opposing the Vietnam War and US relations with Apartheid-era South Africa. It is critical that Oberlin continue this tradition by taking a strong position against another Iraq war. With the current referendum, Student Senate has given students the option to voice their opinions on the issue. A strong showing of opposition against the war can help influence President Dye and the college spokespeople to continue Oberlin’s heritage of commitment to justice and tolerance. If Oberlin and other well respected institutions of higher education publicly oppose the war, we can engage the nation in a critical dialogue about the war. I ask my fellow students to join with me in opposing war against Iraq. Please vote NO on the referendum.

–Jesse Kanson-Benanav
College sophomore