Include the threat to Israel

Submitted by D. Connell (United States), Aug 21, 2002 at 10:03

The comments of R. Srinivas in answer to your article has raised a good point. Our government has never been able to tell the American people the real reasons behind the Gulf War or this present distress with Iraq. There are certainly other threats to other peoples, just as evil. We do not have the resources to deal with all of them at the same time, also we believe that Pakistan can be deterred by the threat of retalliation in kind. Iraq, or Saddam on the other hand appears to be like a suicide bomber. The threat of retaliation will not deter their use of WMD. The present threat from Iraq is imminently more dangerous to Israel than to us. I believe the truth is that our government tries to be Israel's protector and is fearful of what might be the consequencies of Israel taking the matter into their own hands. Could our people or the people of the rest of the world not accept such reasoning as justification for us to get involved or for Israel to get involved? I personally would have no problem with defending the only democracy in the region from any threats from any of the Islamic dictators in the region. Why is it out of the question for Israel to help us against their own enemies? The world could not accept Israel defending itself by another preemptive strike as they did once before.

In order to make a good case against Saddam, President Bush will have to include the threat to Israel. This will not sit well with the Muslims and for reasons unknown to me, this will not sit well with the Europeans, either.

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