The War Continues

“Breaking news!” “American planes hit Iraqi anti-aircraft batteries.” “The war is beginning.” “The war is starting and we told you first,” trumpeted CNN.

They are referring to the ramping up of American military action in Iraq as “the war,” as if it is distinguishable from “the peace” that preceded it and which it disturbs. Nonsense, and dangerous nonsense at that.

“Breaking news!” “American planes hit Iraqi anti-aircraft batteries.” “The war is beginning.” “The war is starting and we told you first,” trumpeted CNN.

They are referring to the ramping up of American military action in Iraq as “the war,” as if it is distinguishable from “the peace” that preceded it and which it disturbs. Nonsense, and dangerous nonsense at that.

There is only one war, and it began with the unprovoked invasion of Kuwait by Iraq in August 1990. Active fighting by coalition forces was halted under the terms of a cease-fire (UNSCR 687), which required Iraq to “unconditionally accept” the destruction, removal or rendering harmless “under international supervision” of all “chemical and biological weapons and all stocks of agents and all related subsystems and components and all research, development, support and manufacturing facilities.” In addition, there were requirements for Iraq regarding missile development, WMD and Kuwait. Only “upon official notification by Iraq to the Secretary-General and to the Security Council of its acceptance of the provisions above, a formal cease-fire is effective …”

But what if Iraq cheated on the terms of the cease-fire? Then the cease-fire would be void and it could be expected that armed hostility would resume.

And so it did, almost immediately. Saddam has killed tens of thousands of people since then. He never revealed his weapons and missile programs and continued to advance them. He did not account for Kuwaiti dead and missing. He abused the money from the UN “oil for food” program, consigning tens of thousands of Iraqi children to hunger, misery and early death.

Maybe CNN hasn’t noticed, but the US and Britain (and France, early on), from the territory of coalition allies, have spent tremendous amounts of time, money and military manpower to enforce the northern and southern “no fly zones” to protect at least some Iraqi civilians from Saddam’s wrath. By the 10th anniversary of the invasion, it was estimated that the U.S. had spent $20 billion on the operation. American troops that served on those missions received combat decorations.

This is fundamental to understanding the steps the U.S. is about to take.

All of the blather at the UN was not about going to war vs. not going to war. It was about finishing the business of the failed cease-fire agreement of March 1991.

The “anti-war” crowd misdirects its passion in demanding “peace” from President Bush. If they want peace, they should support the ongoing and escalating American military action that will end the war Saddam began, and rescue what is left of Iraq.