A search for moral absolutes in uncompromising violence

When writer Ambrose Bierce said “War is God's way of teaching Americans geography“ I wonder if he realized the extent of what would come….

Like most of the world I was watching the American President George W. Bush address his nation yesterday.

In his speech he said many things, the nature of which could be considered disturbing. In spite of the well supported UN Resolution 1441 He has decided his nation will act alone to aggressively invade Iraq. Since this seems inevitable I want to hold him to these words:

“Many Iraqis can hear me tonight in a translated radio broadcast, and I have a message for them. If we must begin a military campaign, it will be directed against the lawless men who rule your country and not against you. As our coalition takes away their power, we will deliver the food and medicine you need. We will tear down the apparatus of terror and we will help you to build a new Iraq that is prosperous and free. In a free Iraq, there will be no more wars of aggression against your neighbors, no more poison factories, no more executions of dissidents, no more torture chambers and rape rooms. The tyrant will soon be gone. The day of your liberation is near”.

Sadly ~ we all know, especially since the USA has abandoned and betrayed the Iraqi people once before, that this is likely a pipe dream that will be shattered by the real horrors of war.