OPINION & EDITORIAL
Iraq war only about oil — For France and Germany
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Also by Matt Modell:
- Taking responsibility for your decisions (April 24, 2003)
- The key word is 'illegal' (December 4, 2003)
- Feingold-McCain 'Incumbent Protection Plan' fails (November 13, 2003)
- A fond farewell to UW (December 11, 2003)
- An honorable and just battle (November 20, 2003)
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- "Pull out early" method doesn't work (November 5, 2003)
- Moment of truth for United Nations (February 5, 2003)
- Super Size my freedom fries (February 24, 2003)
- Lieberman proposal deserves notice (December 13, 2005)
- Gates outshines Rumsfeld's term (March 9, 2007)
by Matt Modell
Thursday, February 13, 2003
Only a few months ago, the far left was decrying a war with Iraq, saying it was only about oil. They were right.
But the left is not saying this any longer because it realized it was right about the oil — but wrong about which countries were making world-security decisions based on greedy self-interests.
The U.S. economy is not great right now. We are facing large deficits, which a costly war will not help. But we move forward, ready and willing to go to war if Saddam Hussein forces the United States, because this government understands that this would be a war about security and freedom, not money.
Many people do not understand how the United States, the United Kingdom and other nations could be so strongly in favor of going to war if necessary, while the French and Germans could be so opposed. The reason is starting to be made public, and it is sickening to the stomach.
In the past five years, French companies have submitted 272 applications to the United Nations for the Food for Oil program with Iraq. The value of these 272 applications is in the billions of dollars. The United States has submitted a mere 93 applications, valued at $217 million — all of which have been put on hold.
Oh, and the Food for Oil program with Iraq doesn’t actually mean the French are selling the Iraqis food. On the contrary, they are selling them medical products which can be used for dual purposes. This includes high-speed switches to control nuclear warheads and fiber-optic equipment to build communication centers.
The selfishness does not end. If Hussein stays in power, he has indicated he would purchase $3.5 billion worth of industrial goods and services from France and Germany over the next six months.
The French and Germans are standing behind Iraq and offering silly plans such as tripling the number of weapons inspectors because it is good for business in their respective countries. This is despite the fact that everyone knows it is not about how many inspectors are in Iraq. Have 50 inspectors or 2,000 inspectors ? if Iraq will not cooperate, it will not matter. Damn the safety of the world. As long as the French and German economies can pick up, why do they care?
While France works hard to make the United Nations irrelevant, they now, with the help of the Germans and Belgians, have their sights set on making NATO irrelevant too.
According to NATO’s mission statement, “The fundamental role of NATO is to safeguard the freedom and security of its member countries.”
NATO’s sole purpose is to have a coalition of nations in place and working together to ensure the safety and security of each other. NATO is defensive in nature.
Turkey has made a request that if attacked by Iraq, NATO provide defense to them. Turkey is not asking for us to go into Iraq. They are simply asking for protection if a war does break out.
This is why NATO exists. Nineteen countries make up NATO. Sixteen of them are placing security and the mission of NATO above everything else. It is the greed of three nations that threaten to prevent the Turkish from being protected from Hussein in the event of a war
The French and Germans have reservations about going to war — and that is their right. But these reservations should not be taken out on a small Muslin nation that borders Iraq.
The world is in support of a regime change in Iraq — even if by force. The United States is not looking at any type of unilateral action. There is a large coalition of countries prepared to help if France continues to threaten to veto a new UN resolution authorizing the use of force against Iraq. Greedy, self-interested countries such as Germany and France should not and will not be allowed to endanger the safety and security of citizens worldwide.
Matt Modell (mmodell@badgerherald.com) is a senior majoring in journalism and political science.
