[E-rundbrief] Info 596 - Poka Laenui about Iraq

Fr Sep 21 18:52:26 CEST 2007

E-Rundbrief - Info 596 - Poka Laenui (Hawaii): 
What is the right thing to do about Iraq?

Bad Ischl, 21.9.2007

Begegnungszentrum für aktive Gewaltlosigkeit

www.begegnungszentrum.at

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What is the right thing to do about Iraq?

Poka Laenui

Friday, September 21, 2007

Another day passes.  More deaths and destruction 
reported.  The people are sick of it.  The 
question for the United States of America remains the same.

Should the U.S. have a winning strategy or should 
it be a noble strategy?  Is it better to be Victorious or to be Honorable?

The United States should not win in its war 
against Iraq.  It should change its strategy to 
being just.  It should lose this war.

The U.S. was wrong for its attack upon Iraq in 
the first place.  There was no justification for 
the attack.  The reasons the U.S. invaded Iraq, 
even if true, would not have been adequate 
justification.  Possession of weapons of mass 
destruction is not a justification for such an 
aggressive act.  Beyond that, Iraq had no weapons 
of mass destruction.  On this count, the United 
States is an international delinquent, a violator 
of Iraqi sovereignty, and a threat to the peace 
of every country, which displeases the U.S.A.

The alternate justification for the attack, to 
topple the regime of Saddam Hussein, was also no 
justification for this war.  The quality of 
leadership of a nation is an internal matter over 
which the United States has no right to 
meddle.  On this count, the United States is an 
international delinquent, a violator of Iraqi 
sovereignty, and an international threat to peace.

The 3rd justification for the attack is to bring 
democracy to Iraq.  The imposition of a stronger 
nations political preference in running a 
government or society has never been considered a 
legitimate basis for attacking another 
nation.  Again, the U.S. is an international 
delinquent, violator of Iraqi sovereignty, and a threat to peace.

For every alternate justification for the attack 
by the U.S. against Iraq, the result is the same 
the justification falls far short for this war.

That being the case, what is the basis upon which 
one could entertain the notion of winning a war 
upon which there had been no justification for entering in the first place?

The thinking among those leaders of the 
American society in trying to find a victorious 
exit from Iraq is awry!  The United States has 
been the bad guy all along.  It must now exit honorably.

The cost of an honorable exit may indeed be 
great.  But it is a price the U.S. brought upon 
itself.  Its like the adage, if you break it, pay for it.

The U.S. exit strategy should include the following:
Confession - Declare to the Iraqi people and the 
International community that it was wrong in conducting this war.
Apology  Apologize to the Iraqi people and the 
International community for its conduct of the war.
Reparation  Be responsible for the repair of all 
damage incurred during this war, bringing the 
people and the physical condition of Iraq back to 
the condition it would have been had the U.S. not 
brought on the war.  Iraqi families who have 
suffered the loss of lives or physical or mental 
injuries to their members should be justly 
compensated in amounts established by a neutral 
commission, and fully funded by the United States.
Transfer Leadership  Remove itself from presence 
in Iraq immediately, and turn over its 
responsibility for reparation to a coalition of 
international entities, including foreign nations 
(not among the Coalition of the Willing, 
non-governmental organizations, and individuals 
of international repute, who will direct the rebuilding of Iraq.
Non-profiting  U.S. companies and individuals 
should be prohibited from profiting from the U.S. 
war, thereby requiring the profits gained by U.S. 
contractors who have worked in Iraq to turn over 
said profits to be added to the Reparation effort.
Disengage in Iraq affairs  Commit, with 
assurances taken under domestic laws and 
international obligations, that it shall not 
carry on any attempt to affect the internal or 
external affairs of Iraq.  No U.S. secret 
agencies shall be allowed to enter upon, 
electronically spy, or interfere within the 
territorial and political integrity of Iraq.
Ending Retribution  Subject U.S. individuals, 
including the highest ranking civilian and 
military personnel, to the jurisdiction of the 
international criminal court, thereby ending 
outstanding warrants, charges, and man-hunts into 
the future for those who carried on crimes 
against humanity.  The U.S. should also subject 
its citizens to domestic courts jurisdiction, 
passing special procedures for violating laws of 
war.  Such trials should be 
expedited.   Presidential pardons should not be 
permitted to prevent domestic charges and trials 
from being brought against such individuals.  The 
U.S. should work with the international community 
in extraditing individuals for trials in the international courts.

Evaluation of the Peace Plan:
Costly  the price is indeed high, but it is the 
right thing to do, and if the price is not 
stabilized at this point, there is no telling how 
much higher it will climb in lives and property 
destroyed, in reputation un-reparable.   It would 
be unconscionable to foist the cost of this war 
upon the people of Iraq, or go unpaid.
Terrorism unresolved  the continuation of this 
war is not going to resolve terrorism.  In fact, 
the war only generates more and more terrorist 
for generations to come.  If terrorism is to end, 
it will only come through a just peace, which 
involves at least the above elements.  In this 
plan, terrorism by the U.S. through its spy 
agencies and through its blatant war actions will 
have ended.  The terrorism generated by the 
pattern of U.S. action in the Middle East will 
slow and hopefully begin the steps to bring the 
peace in the hearts and minds of the people who 
are responding to U.S. war activities.  This will 
be a beginning to truly end terrorism by 
introducing justice as a foundation for long lasting peace.
Unpopular - The plan would not be supported by 
the U.S. public initially, because of the high 
price.  But the plan will stop the cost from 
escalating further in terms of lives lost on both 
sides of the war, continuing injury to parties in 
all directions, and in the destruction of 
property.  The price will only go higher the 
longer this unjust war continue, and the 
repayment will eventually be meted out, if not 
willingly by the U.S., than through continued 
terrorism throughout the lives of our children 
and their children, ad infinitum.

Poka Laenui
Waianae
Hawaii

e-mail: plaenui at pixi.com

http://www.opihi.com/sovereignty

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