By Nicole Demouth
Oil or a future? Choose one
For laymen such as I, here is what’s happening with Iraq and the U.S., in the way I believe it should be explained. President Bush has told Iraqi leaders that we will not attack if the U.N. inspectors who need to assess a few things within Iraq can enter and get their job done. Iraqi representatives say that this is not possible; the detailed schedule of inspection information that they have received is “not fair.” What the specifics are, we the public are not completely informed on, but you have to wonder – all we want to do is look. Why won’t Iraq let us?
Since the representatives from Iraq are uncooperative, President Bush gave them a deadline. If it is not met, then the U.S. military will invade and do what is needed to protect us from any dangerous uncertainties. The soldiers whom will be carrying out this mission have chosen to serve their country with pride and duty. Though it is always sad to leave loved ones, they are courageous heroes for doing so. Here at home, however, there is some protest against the President and his decision.
A majority of these protestors believe that war is uncalled for and the senseless shedding of blood is unnecessary. This has to make you wonder – whose blood are they trying to protect? The blood of our American troops or the blood of the people of Iraq? If they are fighting to save the lives of our troops, then that is admirable, however highly unlikely. Correct me if I am wrong, but our soldiers have chosen to serve our country and that is a most honorable choice to make. You can’t take that away from them. The people of Iraq are not our problem. Their secrets are. Saddam is one of the few leaders I have seen in countless photographs holding an armed weapon. Now apply common sense. Who was the last man we saw publicly extending and firing weapons? Bin Laden.
Then there is the matter of our oil supply. Choosing between oil and war with Iraq is like comparing apples and oranges. Do you worry more about higher oil prices or an attack comparable to 9/11? If the U.S. does indeed go to war with Iraq, oil prices will rise, but military experts have reported that the time spent in Iraq should take no more than two months, in view of undercover surveillance. Regardless of what could or what will happen, it’s important to know how the oil industry, as well as the natural gas industry, function. Pipe control, supplier quotes, forward ordering, etc., are all tricks of the trade. Suppliers as well as businesses both inside and outside of the U.S. should be examined by all for a better grasp on how the oil industry works.
Some anti-Bush backers believe that he is avenging his father. I would like to note one thing regarding this idea: Saddam Hussein murdered his son. Besides, there’s no harm in correcting mistakes. President Bush is currently striving to make up for not capturing Osama Bin Laden, a point which former president Bill Clinton publicly admitted failing to do. This is not to say that all blame is on Mr. Clinton; there have been many presidents in history who didn’t seize various opportunities. We learn from our mistakes, but at the same time technology is drastically changing. It is with this that we find that certain countries are no longer underdogs and could now prove to be a real threat. Why wait to find out? I have a future.
