Tuesday, March 3, 1998
Every country is only out for itself in our corrupt world
FOREIGN POLICY U.S. carefully weighs options before acting in
foreign nations
By Wesley Jay Morris
I am writing in response to Garrick Ruiz’s article on the
hypocrisy in the Iraqi Crisis ("Military action downright
hypocritical," Feb. 26). Ruiz attempts to note the great hypocrisy
of the situation and he closely examines the five reasons the
Clinton administration gives for justifying the use of force in the
situation. I think Ruiz misconstrues some of his arguments and
misses the true reason the United States is so concerned with
Iraq.
Ruiz first claims that the United States is not really that
dependent on natural resources from the Middle East. This might be
true; the United States might be able to live without this source
of oil. However, Ruiz quickly evades the original point of
"strategic value" and quickly remarks about the political
institutions of the individual states in the Gulf Region. Not to
mention that "strategic value" does not necessarily include Iraq,
but the stability of the entire region. If Iraq attacks one of its
neighbors, that upsets the balance of power in the region and
everyone is going to start shooting first and asking questions
later. That is a serious "strategic" problem.
Ruiz begins his second point of inquiry on the proliferation of
"non-conventional arms." Ruiz is quick to point out that the United
States is being hypocritical by denouncing Iraq’s development of
"non-conventional arms" while the United States has the largest
supply of these weapons themselves. Stopping the proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction has absolutely nothing to do with our
number of weapons. It is the goal of the United States to limit
other countries from obtaining these weapons of mass destruction
for the sole reason of protecting our own interests. One of those
interests is insuring that a terrorist does not buy nuclear weapons
from Iraq, smuggle the weapon into the United States, and then cook
off a nuke in downtown Los Angeles.
Ruiz then strays from the original point of non-conventional
proliferation to talk about conventional land mines and eventually
back to ideology. Proliferation generally refers to the spread of
weapons of mass destruction. Nations around the world need
conventional weapons to protect themselves from invasion and to
settle low-conflict disputes (the point being not to annihilate).
This cannot be disputed. It is not the United States’ goal to
outlaw all weapons. Ruiz also claims that the United States does
not seem too concerned about other countries obtaining these
weapons. I believe they are more than concerned about other cases
of weapons of mass destruction falling into the hands of unstable
governments and radically anti-American dictators. Proliferation of
non-conventional weapons by these people would once again be
against our best interests.
Ruiz does bring up some good questions during his examination of
the "containment of aggression." Yes, the United States does have a
long track record of acting aggressively in other nations. This
cannot be disputed. However, what caused the United States to act
in the first place? If we allow Iraq to invade and capture
neighboring countries, we will have another Hitler on our hands. In
reality, we already have another Hitler. How do you explain the
illogical actions that Hussein has performed since becoming the
president of Iraq? Gassing the Kurds, creating an ecological
disaster area of the Persian Gulf, committing his country to a war
that cannot be won, lying about winning the war to his people – the
list goes on and on. There is no explanation. Hussein has mental
problems and they are going to continue unless he gets medical help
(doubtful) or he is removed from power.
Ruiz then points his attention to the United Nations and the
United States as a world superpower. I happen to agree with Ruiz’s
critical attitude towards the United Nations. The United Nations is
a complete farce. There is probably no other political organization
in this world that is more corrupt than the United Nations. And it
is true that the United States picks and chooses when to listen to
the United Nations. We mined the harbors of Nicaragua in direct
violation of U.N. orders. Yet, six years later the United Nations
gives the United States permission to take action in Panama. The
United Nations has been ineffective in its peacekeeping efforts and
attempts to use the guise of "world peace" to involve itself in the
affairs of sovereign nations. Unfortunately the United States has
taken upon itself the role of the world policeman and involved
itself in the trivial matters of other nations. The United States’
acceptance of the U.N. Charter was an unfortunate step in
surrendering some of our own sovereignty.
I believe it is vital that the United States carefully weigh its
interests before becoming involved in any foreign crisis, no matter
what the issue is or who it involves. You may ask how I can say
such a horrible thing? Well I will tell you.
Everyone in this world is concerned with his or her own
interests. Sure, there are people who are really concerned about
the interests of the people of East Timor or the "oppressed people"
of whatever nation happens to be the latest spot in the news or in
the Daily Bruin for the day. Be honest, how many of you would care
about East Timor if your immediate survival were at stake? How many
"oppressed people" halfway across the globe do you think would care
if Canada suddenly invaded the United States and killed 150 million
Americans with weapons of mass destruction? This world is in a
state of political anarchy. It is every nation for itself. If the
situation has no effect on your immediate survival or your
interests for continuing your present way of life, it is simply not
going to be a high priority. The United States has the means to act
and our leaders are going to act and will continue to act when they
think that our interests are threatened. All the yelling and
screaming in the world will not change that.Morris is a third-year
political science student. He can be reached at
[email protected].