The domino theory - part 2

In the message posted just before this one, I talked about how one of the primary rationales for the Iraq war appears to be little more than the Vietnam era "domino effect", but with democracy as the force toppling governments instead of communism.

The Minneapolis-St. Paul Star-Tribune has an excellent editorial explaining the neo-con reasoning for the war in Iraq and how they think the domino effect will work in our favour this time around.

Saddam Hussein is a brutal tyrant who routinely thumbs his nose at the United States. His interest in weapons of mass destruction -- if not his possession of them -- is well-established, meaning he may become a threat to the United States and its friends at some point. Moreover, he is in violation of numerous U.N. Security Council resolutions. The United States can make a case for ousting him by military force -- a case that can't be made for any other Middle East leader. So Saddam's the guy.

Removing Saddam will do a number of positive things. In his place the United States and friends can build a peaceful, prosperous, democratic, secular state in Iraq. That in turn will be a powerful catalyst for promoting change and reform throughout the Islamic world. Oppressive, corrupt regimes will become vulnerable because people across the region will want what the Iraqi people now have. And Islamic reform is key to removing the conditions that breed terrorism.

It also talks about what's been called the "flypaper" theory, which is basically that by putting our soldiers in Iraq, we can get all the terrorists to focus on attacking them there, and they'll leave us at home in the US alone. I'm sure the families of our troops will be feeling quite comforted by that idea. (Of course, the "flypaper" concept doesn't take consider whether having troops there might make terrorist organizations angrier and thus more likely to attack than if we weren't there, but I suppose the neocons don't really consider that to be relevant.)

At any rate, be sure to read this editorial. It's a real gem and does a fantastic job of showing just how the whole war has been a giant "bait-and-switch" pulled on the American people that we now have to live with.

Posted by thorswitch at August 3, 2003 12:01 PM | TrackBack