FREE IRAQ:

Free Iraq from Saddam's evil regime: The ruler of Iraq is an extraordinarily cruel despot who knows only the language of power, violence and war. The West should overthrow him. (Hamid Ali Alkifaey, 02 October 2002, Open Democracy)

Saddam Hussein has been ruling Iraq with an iron fist for over three decades. His only means of staying in power is through terrorism against the entire population of the country. He has caused the death of at least two million Iraqis, through wars, executions and sanctions. He has squandered Iraq's wealth in the purchase of legal and illegal weapons. Worse, he has used the plight of the oppressed Iraqi people to strengthen his power. Instead of working to alleviate the effects of sanctions, which were brought upon the people by his adventures, he has used them to justify his oppression, deflect attention from his failings, and blackmail the world. [...]

Saddam came to power through the most brutal violence, has kept it through the same method, and will never give it up without a fight. He was helped to power and armed by the West. Now the West has the opportunity to correct its tragic mistake. The free world has a duty to free the Iraqi people.

It will require courage and determination to rid ourselves of Saddam and free Iraq and the region of his evil regime. I have been anti-war all my life. I was against the Iraq/Iran war, the Iraq/Kuwait war, and the war against the Kurds and the Marsh Arabs. But that did not stop Saddam from launching these wars and killing hundreds of thousands of people. The only way to stop him is to remove him from power. Although Iraqis do not want another war, most of them recognise that Saddam won't leave without war or the threat of it.

We'd say a right to free the people of Iraq, rather than a duty. Posted by Orrin Judd at October 5, 2002 8:58 AM