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War or Peace?
It's more difficult than you think
by Melanie King
Students at forum in Belk Auditorium
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Looking for answers about war with Iraq? Students at Mars Hill College recently found that the issues are more complex than meets the eye.
A student-sponsored forum included faculty presentations brimming with information on the new Bush Doctrine, the history and religion of Iraq, conflict between Israel and Palestine, theories of what makes a war just, and U.S. foreign policy.
Arranged by the Student Government Association, the forum was held in Belk Auditorium on Tuesday evening, February 18.
Nearly 100 people, mainly students, showed up to hear the panelists -- Mars Hill College faculty members Matt Baldwin, Kathy Meacham, Jim Lenburg, and Harry Hughes. Each had ten minutes to explain different aspects of the massive topic; the presentations were overflowing with details.
Kathy Meacham
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One of the main questions discussed during the forum was, "Is this a just war?" Meacham, associate professor of philosophy, said that to answer, you must first address other questions. For example:
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Does this war have a just cause ( is it a response to aggression, etc.)?
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Does it have just means (civilians aren't targeted, etc.)?
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Is there "just proportionality"? (is the outcome better than the violence that prompted it, etc.)?
Heated questions often rose from the question of just cause. Is the U.S. in bombing Iraq acting in self-defense?
Panelist Hughes said his answer is yes. But in an open mic session later, some students questioned whether the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center by a group of terrorists from different countries could be directly linked to Iraq.
Hughes contended there is a link. "The defense of the United States is the issue here, and my question is for the people who honestly believe we don't have a just cause. What if you are wrong?"
Panelists asked students to look at Iraq and the surrounding issues of war from a number of perspectives.
Baldwin, assistant professor of religion and philosophy, pointed to the "centrality of the Arab/ Israeli conflict in setting this particular dilemma before us." He related discord with Iraq to a larger geo-political struggle which is "not just twelve but more than 100 years old."
At the turn of the 19th century, Jews across Europe began thinking of themselves as a nation, signifying the beginning of Zionism. With these thoughts, Jews began to immigrate to Palestine. At the same time Arabs, already in Palestine, also began to deem themselves a nation; this was known as 'Pan-Arabism.'
Matt Baldwin
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With continuing problems between the immigrating Jews and the Arabs, in 1947, the leaders of the world determined to create two independent nations. This plan was met with the support of everyone but the Arabs.
Shortly after its creation on May 14, 1948, the new Jewish state of Israel was invaded by Iraq and several other countries. Israel defeated them. During this period, more than 750,000 Palestinians were driven from their homes inside Israel.
Since this dislocation, there has been continuing conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis. The allied West has generally backed the Israelis.
Today, Fundamentalist Muslims have taken up the Palestinian's cause and have chosen the United States as one of their targets of terrorism.
Opening with a quote from an anti-war sign, "Don't Mess With Mesopotamia", Meacham talked about the significance of the region that is now Iraq. One of the oldest civilizations, this site has been credited with the invention of the wheel, creation of the term zero, idea of the calendar, and was the home of Biblical figures like Abraham and Noah.
She noted that Iraq is extremely diverse. "There are three types of people in Islam, two different ways of being Muslim, and two ethnic groups in different combinations… this is not really about Islam, it's way more complicated than that."
In the northern portion of Iraq are the Kurds, and located at the center of Iraq are the Arabs, Sunni Muslims and Christians (Saddam Hussein is a Sunni Muslim). Two thirds of the population reside in the south. Ethnically Arab, religiously they are Shi'ite Muslims.
Created in the 20th century by the British, the modern nation of Iraq "is held together by political and military duct tape," said Meacham. Led by the Baath party, a strong military group, Iraq is beneath the tyrannical leader Saddam Hussein.
Bringing the discussion further into the United States immediate situation, History Professor Jim Lenburg offered a short history of Iraq and talked about the United States foreign policy and diplomatic history of the Middle East.
Jim Lenburg
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Lenburg explained that in the 1990's, Iraq declared it had thousands and thousands of tons of chemical and biological weapons. The recent United Nations Resolution 1441 requires Iraq to account for those weapons and show they've been destroyed. Resolution 1441 also permits United States weapon inspectors to go into Iraq.
Along with history, Lenburg provided a list of questions to aid in comprehending what the United States role in this issue is and to aid in making judgments about United States foreign policy towards Iraq.
An example of this would be answering yes to the question of whether or not Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction. In order to fully investigate the issue you would be directed to another set of questions, including the question, "should the U.S. engage in preemption, removing Saddam Hussein from power?"
Hughes, a math professor, began with saying yes, yes, and yes to all of the questions asked by Lenburg. He displayed a political cartoon of a massive, tough guy with a tattoo of the word "war" on his arm, asking to cut in on a "dancing couple," -- Saddam Hussein and diplomacy.
Explaining the cartoon, Hughes asserted, "Twelve years of diplomacy hasn't convinced Saddam Hussein to disarm, and a very credible threat of war hasn't convinced him to disarm. Why would these actions not convince him to disarm? He intends to use them (weapons of mass destruction). It's the only logical answer."
Hughes also approves of the new Bush Doctrine, which proclaims you're either with us or against us on the war on terrorism.
Harry Hughes
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He said the creation of the Bush Doctrine is a direct result of the alliances between terrorists and state sponsors of terrorism.
Another essential part of the Bush Doctrine is referred to as "preemption" - which means taking the cards out of your opponent's hand before he has a chance to play.
Summing up the meaning, Hughes asked, "Do we wait to be attacked again, and this time by weapons of mass destruction?"
For over twelve years - since the end of the Persian Gulf War -- Saddam Hussein has defied 17 UN resolutions. He is "playing a game of chess," staying one step ahead of the inspectors by relocating weapons in different countries, said Hughes. Hughes suggests thinking of this as a lingering war over Saddam's refusal to honor agreements he made after being driven out of Kuwait.
Many students took advantage of the remaining hour to ask directed questions of the panelists.
Alex Ashton asked Hughes what the plan was for after the war.
Hughes, with his military past, explained that in these situations the United States always carefully plans, never "hoping for the best". He explained that a U.S. military administration would be placed over Iraq until a proper Iraq government was established.
Jeff Jenkins asked, "Who is allied with the United States? And if we don't go to war, what does that say about the credibility of the U.S. and the United Nations?"
Lenburg answered that the United Nations, U.S., and NATO have "painted themselves into a corner" and may have little choice but to go to war.
Other students were confused about what exactly the United States is going to war against. Chris Eleazer said, "I'm curious to know -- are we fighting terrorism? Are we fighting Hussein? Or are those two separate?"
Baldwin said "the fear is that Hussein with his weapons of mass destruction, as well as his political ties, harbors terrorists, that he is willing to proliferate weapons to terrorist groups, and that the ideology of terrorist groups is supported by Saddam's government."
George Peery, professor of political science and panel moderator, was pleased with the interest. "It's wonderful when students come up to you and say, we need to have a forum about what's going on in the Middle East."
He said he hopes that students " will leave here better informed, will understand the complexities of the issue far better than you do now, and can ask more pointed questions about what you yourself believe that we ought to do as the United States."
Characteristics of a "Just War" by Assoc. Philosophy Professor Kathy Meacham
Questions for Deciding War or Peace by History Professor James Lenburg
Dates in Modern Iraqi History by Prof. Lenburg
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