Wednesday, March 10, 2004
Colin Powell made an unexpected foray into the US presidential campaign on Monday by insisting that the issue of whether the Bush administration had misled the nation about Iraqi WMD be excluded from political debate."We ought to stick with what we said and not start changing our view a year later because it's in our political interest," said the US Secretary of State. - AFP
Some might call it escapist. And I'm on the verge of agreeing with it, as much a pro-American loyalist as I am. If the WMD issue is unable to stand up to the fundamental test of open debate, Mr Powell's opinion has unwittingly answered the million-dollar question in a way we loyalists hope not to hear.
While the task of nation-building may be difficult, strife with gaza-styled resistance, note that the road to prosperity and peace has never been free of obstacles as history has shown. The Iraq today may seem worse off than under the Saddam regime, but I believe the need to push forward political progress is worthwhile for the future of all Iraqis. I have to admit that the parties involved in the rebuilding process may have various agendas in their own self-interests, yet the peace process should not be rejected simply on such a basis, when the ends can possibly justify the means. The US-led war has become a fact, a relic of the recent past. So what if the Bush administration had garnered support to lead a war to support its own political agenda, the current outcome is certainly one that beats having Saddam in power for years to come.
Some might call it escapist. And I'm on the verge of agreeing with it, as much a pro-American loyalist as I am. If the WMD issue is unable to stand up to the fundamental test of open debate, Mr Powell's opinion has unwittingly answered the million-dollar question in a way we loyalists hope not to hear.
While the task of nation-building may be difficult, strife with gaza-styled resistance, note that the road to prosperity and peace has never been free of obstacles as history has shown. The Iraq today may seem worse off than under the Saddam regime, but I believe the need to push forward political progress is worthwhile for the future of all Iraqis. I have to admit that the parties involved in the rebuilding process may have various agendas in their own self-interests, yet the peace process should not be rejected simply on such a basis, when the ends can possibly justify the means. The US-led war has become a fact, a relic of the recent past. So what if the Bush administration had garnered support to lead a war to support its own political agenda, the current outcome is certainly one that beats having Saddam in power for years to come.
