War with Iraq would have a negative impact on the United States and the World

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War on Iraq

War with Iraq would have a negative impact on the United States and the World

Victor Kyle Rumbolt

St. Francis Xavier University

Most recently, tensions between Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and United States President George W. Bush have been culminating. According to Dobbin (2002), President Bush stated himself, ‘The debate about whether we’re going to deal with Saddam Hussein is over. Now the question is how do we deal with him.’ The reason for tension between these two countries dates back to a relatively short but damaging history in terms of reputation, lives and dollars. In 1990 the short lasting Persian Gulf War began. Led by the elder George Bush, Iraq was clearly out matched and was quickly defeated. The post war scheme involved Iraq being subject to, and closely monitored, by United Nations arms inspections. Then in 1998 Iraq ceased to co-operate with inspectors and air strikes led by the United States began in an attempt to demobilize Saddam’s chemical, biological and nuclear weapons development programs.  Since then, sanctions have been placed on Iraq, causing the people of Iraq to be destitute and starving. However an agreement could not be met between the United Nations and Iraq, which brings us to today, with yet another George Bush planning to run into battle once again turning the already war torn country into greater ruins and producing even more poverty to the desperate civilians of Iraq. According to Lewine: “Bush has described Iraq as part of an ‘axis of evil,’” One has to wonder what are George Bush’s morals.  Attacking Iraq would have, and already is having, a negative impact on the United States, and the rest of the world. Economies, world peace and security would all be negatively influenced. The United States seems to be making a growing list of enemies that even it, as the most powerful nation in the world, might not have the resources to manage in its current condition. Even with the United Nations urging the United States not to attack, Bush is still set on war.

If the current conflict between the United States and Iraq does develop into another Persian Gulf War, it would be very costly in several ways for the government. According to an article written by Martin (2002):

Unlike the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War, when the first Bush administration strong-armed US allies such as Japan, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia into paying the bulk of the cost, a war in 2002 or 2003 would be paid for almost entirely by the United States. The first gulf war cost the US Treasury nearly $13 billion, out of a total cost estimated at $61 billion. The second gulf war would likely require upwards of $80 billion—six times the previous US outlay—under conditions where the US federal budget has plunged into deficit.

The United States is still recovering from the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. Every time Bush even mentions going to war the stocks are in turmoil. Oil prices increase radically according to Fennell (2002): “Talk of war has already pushed the price of oil from $19 a barrel earlier this year to a 19 month high of $31” Investors lose confidence in this type of unstable market. It would also be costly in lives, on both sides. In a MacLean’s article written by Fennell with Lowther (2002) it states that: “Iraqi forces have the capability of firing weapons carrying anthrax and nerve gas within forty five minutes of receiving an order from Saddam.”  The Iraqi’s are perhaps more prepared this time for a war than they were the previous decade. This war may end up doing more damage to the United States than the benefits (whatever they might be) of attacking a nation on the other side of the world.

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        As stated previously, Bush has been referring to Iraq as a member of an axis of evil. The other members of that Axis would be Iran and North Korea. Back in 1994 there was an agreement reached that North Korea was to abandon pursuing a nuclear weapons program all together and Korea received billions of dollars in aid because of this. However as by an article named N Korea must disarm: Bush (2002): “The United States said last month North Korea had admitted during talks that it had breached a 1994 agreement and was pursuing a nuclear weapons program with ...

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