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War in Iraq: Yes or No?
On Thursday, October 3, 2002, the Innocents Society sponsored its first open forum. "War in Iraq: Yes or No?" featured panelists Dr. David Forsythe (UNL political science professor), Brandon Drake (senior meteorology, Mortar Board, ROTC), Brent Stanfield (senior economics), Trevor Fitzgerald (sophomore political science, Vice-President Young Democrats), and Khedir Al-Tiae (Federal Government employee, Iraqi-American). Read the front-page story from the Daily Nebraskan.

The following questions are those submitted for the panel. Time did not permit the panel to address all questions. Audience members also spoke directly to the panel; those comments are not represented here.
  • From the Gulf War, we learned about Saddam Hussein and how he caused a threat. Why wasn't this issue taken care of the first time? Why now? Bush believes it is a threat now once again. Did Clinton experience any of these issues?
  • One of the US's reasons for taking action against Iraq is Hussein's inhumane treatment of his own people. How do you feel about the US's imposition of economic sanctions on the innocent people of Iraq?
  • Do you feel the American public should be told all the information the government receives about Saddam, terrorism, or any other evidence? How should the American people base their opinions on war against Iraq if we don't know everything?
  • If we do overthrow the government of Iraq, is there a set, working government to replace it? Or will the US go in, overthrow the government and leave -- leaving the country in a worse state than before?
  • Do those who say "yes" to the war have an EXIT POLICY?
  • Nobody likes the House of Saud, either. How can the US support them and claim the moral right to oust Saddam?
  • What kind of enemies will we make if we get rid of Saddam? Is it possible that we could be putting the US in more danger by amplifying anti-American sentiments?
  • How can one assume we elected leaders knowing they would support war in Iraq? Democracy is connecting the will of the people to the actions of government, so do you think going to war is the will of the people? Even if it is the will of the American people, what jurisdiction do we have over other countries?
  • I have heard that many Iraqi people are actually in favor of US action to oust Saddam Hussein. Do you think this is true, and if so, is military action the way to do it? What are some other options?
  • Why not a precise removal of Hussein -- and Hussein only -- without civilian lives lost? We tried it on Hitler and Castro.
  • In 1998, under the Clinton Administration, many democrats spoke out for regime change. Why now are Democrats opposing war when Saddam has had four years without inspectors. Is he less of a threat?
  • Is it true that Saudi Arabia has given the US plans for a regime change in Iraq?
  • What international laws, if any, protect the integrity of Iraq's borders from invasion?
  • What are the sources of anti-American anger in the Arab world?
  • Do you think that the Iraqi National Congress and Dr. Ahmed Ahalabi have the ability to unite the Iraqi people to remove the current leadership in Iraq?
  • How do you see the threat of division of Iraq for her neighbors? Do you think a possible Kurdish state is supported by the US after the operation?
  • Could the Kurds in northern Iraq use the possible chaos of the invasion to join forces with the Kurds in Turkey to destabilize that country?
  • Has Saddam used any weapons of mass destruction since 1988?
  • The League of Nations stood-by as Hitler came to power. We fought a world war because of our inaction. Are we doing the same thing again?
  • The Bush Administration has cited Iraq's use of chemical warfare in its was against Iran as justification for removing Saddam Hussein. Is it fair for the Bush Administration to criticize contemporary Iraq for events that happened 14 years ago when the United States was an Iraqi ally?
  • Many critics claim that Saddam Hussein has shown time and time again that he has something to hide from UN weapons inspectors. If UN Weapons Inspectors are let into Iraq, is it a violation of national sovereignty to demand access to the eight presidential palaces of Saddam Hussein?
  • If the United States were to launch a preemptive strike against Iraq without UN support, what do you see as the best and worst case scenarios?
  • On Tuesday, former President Clinton said to the British Labor Party that military action "should always be a last resort." Is it reasonable to think that removing Saddam Hussein from power is possible without the use of military force?
  • In your opinion, what issue will have greater consequence on American lives: Iraq or the ailing American economy?
  • The Bush Administration has support from the United Kingdom. The three other permanent members of the UN Security Council -- China, France, and Russia -- have spoke against unilateral military action by the United States. Is UK support in the United Nations enough to wage war against Iraq?
  • What do you see as Israel's role in this possible conflict?
  • Iraq holds chemical and biological weapons and has the ability to develop nuclear weapons within five years. Would you agree with President Bush's recent statement that said, "As a matter of common sense and self-defense, America will act against such emerging threats before they are fully formed?"
  • How would you define what exactly are "weapons of mass destruction?"
  • On Wednesday, Walter Chronkite said, "I feel that we probably have not faced a crisis like this in our history, certainly not in our recent history. And it is most important that people express themselves about this matter. Let Congress know what their feelings are about it. And then Congress should stand up and have the courage to ask the questions." Do you think enough Americans are speaking up, whether in favor or not?
  • I think we all agree that Saddam is not a "nice" person and he doesn't like the US. Whether we like him or not shouldn't be the issue, what are the pro's and con's of taking military action against Iraq?
  • Why hasn't the UN taken steps for this action instead of leaving the US to "deal" with it? Do we see something they don't?
  • With the assumption that Iraq has had weapons of mass destruction for the past 11 years, what evidence is there that he will us them offensively rather than to keep himself in power, defensively? Why is there a push now verses 11 years ago?
  • To what extent do you see oil as a motivation of this push for military action?
  • While Bush seems to push an impending war and the UN pushes inspections, who would relinquish weapons, open their security operations in the face of impending war? Do we push war simply by virtue of questioning the validity of inspection?
  • What possible violations of international laws/agreements exist if the United States attacks Iraq without UN support?
  • If we decide to go to war with Iraq, what other countries are going to support us and will these alliances hurt of help the global community's trust in our decision?


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