I’m not raging mad. But if I were an American right now, I sure would be. My views on this might be a tad different than many of my right-wing friends who seem to support America at any cost, including her wars.
War is a terrible thing. It’s probably true that sometimes it is inevitable. My own personal views on the war in Iraq are mixed. Call me a fence sitter if you wish – but I’m afraid that I cannot say I’m completely supportive of it, nor am I totally ‘against’ it.
Having said that, in a general way, I believe that far more can be accomplished throughout the world with free trade than can be with war. American corporations that hire 9 year olds off the street to work in factories will do far more to improve the economics and promote freedom within a poor or enslaved country than any war could ever do. I also believe that free trade will do a lot more in the prevention of terrorism than any war could ever do.
Today, we can see now the results of an America at war. Perhaps it is ‘just some isolated’ incidents, (note the similarity of the cry of the Toronto Cops – or any other organization that has been given powers and rights above civilians and is in the midst of having a scandal become public) – but I don’t think it is isoloated.
And indeed, Rumsfield himself, according to this Toronto Star article has even admitted that the problems of torture, murder, and human degradation at the hands of American troops is far greater than what the public knows.
As much as some may say it is to Rumsfield’s credit that he is calling for reparations to victims, this would not, if I was an American, ease my anger.
For where will these reparations come from, for these atrocious acts committed by American troops? Why – they’ll come from the hard earnings and labour of regular Americans. It is those engaged in work, productivity, and trade, that must now face the burden of paying reparations. Whether they agree with the war or not. They won’t have a choice but to find Uncle Sam taking their hard earned money so they can make reparations to victims, victims caused by Uncle Sam’s paid killers.
Killers who are also paid out of the earnings of those that engage in trade, commerce, work, and productivity.
If I was a cotton picker in Alabama, or an assembly line worker in Detroit, or a stock trader on Wall Street, I’d be more than a little miffed to find out that now some bloke in Iraq is going to have some of the money that I just earned, all because Uncle Sam decided to do what Uncle Sam’s and governments everywhere like to do: Impose their values on every one else. At the point of a gun.
Great post, Ian. I originally supported the war at its outset, but am now absolutely embarrassed by what has gone on in the past year. Reading the opinions of American libertarians who took a principled stand against the war (and got heat from their fellow citizens) also significantly influenced my change in opinion. The difficulty for Canadians continues to be that we often frame our debates and talking points in terms of the American experience. It is impossible to do so and I have pretty much given up trying to put myself in their shoes.
Thanks for your comment, Jay. Like you, I was supportive (but only somewhat) at the the outset of the war. You’re right that its tough for Canadians to try to understand the American experience, but there’s probably a few billion pairs of shoes in the U.S. – surely one of them will be a close fit :). Kidding aside, there seems to be this attitude though, that you must either “hate” America or “love” America. Personally, I admire the “idea” of America – but don’t believe she’s any great model today for liberty and freedom.