Can We Please Oppose the War without Praising Totalitarian Society?

June 28, 2005 - 1:42pm

The World Tribunal on Iraq issued a high profile condemnation of the war on Iraq:

The Bush and Blair administrations blatantly ignored the massive opposition to the war expressed by millions of people around the world. They embarked upon one of the most unjust, immoral, and cowardly wars in history. The Anglo-American occupation of Iraq of the last 27 months has led to the destruction and devastation of the Iraqi state and society. Law and order have broken down completely, resulting in a pervasive lack of human security; the physical infrastructure is in shambles; the health care delivery system is a mess; the education system has ceased to function; there is massive environmental and ecological devastation; and, the cultural and archeological heritage of the Iraqi people has been desecrated.

The press release claims that this decision was reached by a "jury". The word "jury" is dishonest; this so called jury had reached its conclusion long the WTI conference convened.

The jury's conclusion, which was summerized above, was frankly question begging. Is the war really among the most "cowardly", "unjust", and "immoral" in all of history?. Has the jury studied much history?

As I read their judgement, the number one question I kept asking myself was "relative to what?":

  • the health care delivery system is a mess
  • a pervasive lack of human security
  • the destruction and devastation of the Iraqi state and society
  • the physical infrastructure is in shambles

I did not support the war; and I think Bush should be held to account for his neglegence. However, the last thing I will argue is that the Iraqi state was a well functioning, humane, and stable society prior to the war. Iraq was a totalitarian society. Saddam's methods of torture make Gitmo look like a weekend spa. Pre-war Iraqi society was stable -- sure. But it is dishonest to pretend that stablity was the result of anything besides Saddam's torture chambers.

My point is not that "anything is better than Saddam". My point is that oppontents of the war are just as guilty as the Bush administration when it comes to dishonesty, and bending reality. Our opposition should be truthful -- and we needn't resort to painting rosey pictures of pre-war iraq. Does that make me a war-mongering hawk?