We Luv Video
What Should We Have Done?
RECEIVED Tue., Jan. 27, 2004
Dear Editor,
Since 9/11, I have each of your commentaries on the war. I am inclined to agree with many of your points, but I am left with this question: What should we have done then? Al Qaeda was running terrorist training camps in Afghanistan. We had experienced the results. We were supposed to go on tolerating that? The Taliban had Osama; they could have turned him in and kept their nightmare regime. Twelve years of sanctions on Iraq had not had the intended effect of forcing Saddam to come clean as he agreed to do; instead the people of Iraq went on suffering under an uncaring ruler. So it doesn't seem like the right thing to do was to continue the sanctions. But lifting the sanctions on a despot who at the very least clearly intended to develop WMDs and had shown no restraint in using them, indeed, who hadn't shown much restraint period when it comes to dealing out death and misery, and who is sitting next to one of the lifebloods of the world, doesn't seem wise either. Negotiations by third parties and us were repeatedly unsuccessful. So what should we have done?
Since 9/11, I have each of your commentaries on the war. I am inclined to agree with many of your points, but I am left with this question: What should we have done then? Al Qaeda was running terrorist training camps in Afghanistan. We had experienced the results. We were supposed to go on tolerating that? The Taliban had Osama; they could have turned him in and kept their nightmare regime. Twelve years of sanctions on Iraq had not had the intended effect of forcing Saddam to come clean as he agreed to do; instead the people of Iraq went on suffering under an uncaring ruler. So it doesn't seem like the right thing to do was to continue the sanctions. But lifting the sanctions on a despot who at the very least clearly intended to develop WMDs and had shown no restraint in using them, indeed, who hadn't shown much restraint period when it comes to dealing out death and misery, and who is sitting next to one of the lifebloods of the world, doesn't seem wise either. Negotiations by third parties and us were repeatedly unsuccessful. So what should we have done?
Ted Christopher