Bush policy on Iraq

A few years ago, the film "Saving Private Ryan" won both the hearts and many awards from American citizens. World War II was a moral crusade to defeat Nazi Germany and other antide­mocratic forces. The impetus for that war was the unlawful invasion of other sovereign states on which the invaders wanted to impose a change in regime.

Now we come to the 21st century, where President Bush has decided he wishes to impose a regime change in Iraq, either through the assassination of Saddam Hussein or through invasion, thus placing thousands of Private Ryan’s at risk. One has to ask by what right does Bush assume he gets to say who rules Iraq or which leader should live or die? And how would Americans be expected to react if some nation's leader were to say he wanted to take out an American president?

The unfortunate fact is that actions such as Bush is proposing have been the secret face of American policy for years and in many countries, but it has been kept secret from the American public. The Philippines, Korea, Iran, Vietnam, Cambodia, Haiti, Congo, Dominican Republic, Chile, Panama, Grenada and a host of others were all subject to "regime change, American style," and with massive losses of life. The rationale for attacking Iraq is the assumption that they possess "weapons of mass destruction." (And what does one call cluster bombs and anti-person­nel mines? "Weapons of individual destruction?") Yet, no such threats were made to either Pakistan or India as each threatened to use their arsenal of nuclear weapons.

The American public's conscience must be roused if we are to save the next Private Ryan from becoming a casualty of imperial political vanity.

Lawrence W. Young, Jr.

Mr. Young is a member of the National Council for Black Studies, American College Personnel Association, National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, Association of Black Cultural Centers and has presented papers at the national conferences for each of those organizations.  He has had articles published in a wide variety of periodicals and has served as the U.S. correspondent for Afromart Magazine published in London.  He has had chapters published in the Handbook of Minority Student Services, and Cultural Pluralism on Campus.  He has lectured at high schools, colleges and to professional organizations on cultural pluralism, human dignity, African American culture and other issues relative to the Black community and conditions and America..  Mr. Young may be contacted at the Paul Robeson Cultural Center, Penn State University; University Park, PA. 16802.