Obama and Peace
ING
Salam.
I would like to draw your attention to a couple articles:
I. http://www.alternet.org/story/113423/?page=entire
This is an opinion piece by David Cortright. Cortright has been an advocate of peace, demilitarization, and an opponent of nuclear weaponry for many years, and today he a research fellow with the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies. Here are some key points from his article:
A. On Iraq, Obama has called for getting us out of there, but leaving some troops to assist in security operations. Cortright calls for complete withdrawal with a flexible timeline, and urges activists to pressure the Obama adminstration in this regard.
B. On Iran, Cortright calls for recognition of Iran's right to nuclear energy and urges Obama to follow through on promises to start direct negotiations.
C. On nuclear weapons, Cortright calls for the US to endorse a test ban treaty.
D. On terrorism, he writes:
The concept of a "war on terror" is misguided and counterproductive. Utilizing the rhetoric and policy of war turns the criminals who commit mass murder into warriors and presumed heroes within their communities. When the United States bombs and invades Muslim communities, this undermines our moral standing...
II. http://www.juancole.com/2008/12/top-10-reasons-obama-should-resist.html
Juan Cole is also optimistic enough about Obama to offer advice: get out of Iraq asap. Here are his ten reasons:
1. The Status of Forces Agreement passed by the Iraqi parliament explicitly calls for all US troops to be out of Iraq by the end of 2011.
2. The diplomatic cost of staying against a country's will is generally too high for Washington to take that risk.
3. Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani wants US troops out.
4. The Sadr Movement would never accept a permanent US base in Iraq.
5. The Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq and its Badr Corps paramilitary would never accept a long-term US presence.
6. The Sunni Arab guerrillas will never accept a long-term US base.
7. Iran would never put up with a long-term US base in Iraq.
8. Syria would not want a long-term US base.
9. The international Salafi Jihadi movement will be galvanized by any attempt of the US to stay in Iraq for the long term militarily.
10. There is no safe place for an American base.
To these reasons, I would add two. First, the cost of maintaining bases all over the world is just too high. Second, it is not only strategically wrong, for the reasons Juan Cole mentions, but for many of the same reasons, it is morally wrong.
Salam.
I would like to draw your attention to a couple articles:
I. http://www.alternet.org/story/113423/?page=entire
This is an opinion piece by David Cortright. Cortright has been an advocate of peace, demilitarization, and an opponent of nuclear weaponry for many years, and today he a research fellow with the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies. Here are some key points from his article:
A. On Iraq, Obama has called for getting us out of there, but leaving some troops to assist in security operations. Cortright calls for complete withdrawal with a flexible timeline, and urges activists to pressure the Obama adminstration in this regard.
B. On Iran, Cortright calls for recognition of Iran's right to nuclear energy and urges Obama to follow through on promises to start direct negotiations.
C. On nuclear weapons, Cortright calls for the US to endorse a test ban treaty.
D. On terrorism, he writes:
The concept of a "war on terror" is misguided and counterproductive. Utilizing the rhetoric and policy of war turns the criminals who commit mass murder into warriors and presumed heroes within their communities. When the United States bombs and invades Muslim communities, this undermines our moral standing...
II. http://www.juancole.com/2008/12/top-10-reasons-obama-should-resist.html
Juan Cole is also optimistic enough about Obama to offer advice: get out of Iraq asap. Here are his ten reasons:
1. The Status of Forces Agreement passed by the Iraqi parliament explicitly calls for all US troops to be out of Iraq by the end of 2011.
2. The diplomatic cost of staying against a country's will is generally too high for Washington to take that risk.
3. Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani wants US troops out.
4. The Sadr Movement would never accept a permanent US base in Iraq.
5. The Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq and its Badr Corps paramilitary would never accept a long-term US presence.
6. The Sunni Arab guerrillas will never accept a long-term US base.
7. Iran would never put up with a long-term US base in Iraq.
8. Syria would not want a long-term US base.
9. The international Salafi Jihadi movement will be galvanized by any attempt of the US to stay in Iraq for the long term militarily.
10. There is no safe place for an American base.
To these reasons, I would add two. First, the cost of maintaining bases all over the world is just too high. Second, it is not only strategically wrong, for the reasons Juan Cole mentions, but for many of the same reasons, it is morally wrong.
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