- These are times in which there are many more questions
than answers, and many Americans are beginning to form and articulate these
questions. Some of the questions on my mind are the following:
-
-
- 1. If the president gives false information to the American
people about the reasons for going to war, should he be held to account?
-
-
- 2. If the United Nations Security Council does not authorize
a preemptive war, can any country proceed to war or is this the sole prerogative
of the US government?
-
-
- 3. If a country proceeds to war without UN authorization,
is this ãaggressive warfare,ä the type of warfare for which
German and Japanese leaders were punished after World War II?
-
-
- 4. When the North Korean government repeatedly states
that the nuclear crisis can be defused if the US will negotiate a mutual
security pact with them, why is the current US administration dragging
its feet in proceeding to enter into negotiations?
-
-
- 5. Does the United States have a responsibility to participate
with UN forces in restoring security to civilians in civil wars, such as
that in Liberia?
-
-
- 6. Should American troops stationed in Iraq have the
right to complain about the policies of civilian leaders responsible for
our policy there?
-
-
- 7. With half its combat forces in Iraq, is the US military
stretched so thin that it cannot adequately protect Americans at home or
participate in needed UN peacekeeping operations abroad?
-
-
- 8. With the war in Iraq costing American taxpayers nearly
$4 billion per month and the US deficit expected to exceed $400 billion
this year, was it wise to pass large tax cuts for the richest Americans?
-
-
- 9. Is the desire to control Iraqâs oil the reason
that the US hasnât asked the United Nations for help in providing
peacekeeping in Iraq?
-
-
- 10. What is the relationship of companies such as Halliburton,
Bechtel and the Carlyle Group, which are profiting from the war in Iraq,
to members of the current US administration?
-
-
- 11. Are Americans safer to travel throughout the world
after the Iraq War?
-
-
- 12. Has the credibility of the United States throughout
the world increased or decreased in the aftermath of the Iraq War?
-
-
- 13. What is the current status of respect for the United
States throughout the world?
-
-
- 14. Why has the current US administration been hostile
to the creation of an International Criminal Court to hold individual leaders
accountable for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity?
-
-
- 15. Is war an effective way to make peace?
-
- It is time to start demanding answers from our government
to these questions and many more, and their answers should not be given
only in secrecy behind closed doors. Questions about war and peace are
far too important to be left only to politicians and generals without the
voice of the people. It is time for an ongoing public dialogue that includes
answers to questions from the public. If democracy is to have meaning,
the people have a right to know and they deserve to have their questions
answered.
-
-
-
- David Krieger is president of the Nuclear Age Peace
Foundation (www.wagingpeace.org). He is the co-author of Choose Hope,
Your Role in Waging Peace in the Nuclear Age.
-
- "Peace is the only battle worth waging."
- --- Albert Camus
-
- To become a free on-line participating member of the
Nuclear Age Peace Foundation,
- click here: https://www.ndic.com/wagingpeace/supportus.htm
-
- David Krieger, President
- Nuclear Age Peace Foundation
- PMB 121, 1187 Coast Village Road, Suite 1
- Santa Barbara, CA 93108-2794
- dkrieger@napf.org
- Web site: http://www.wagingpeace.org
- http://www.nuclearfiles.org
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