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Contrast simple black-and-white

We say that Saddam Hussein was a tyrannical, cruel, aggressive megolamaniac, better gone, then add three things: - that there were other ways to deal with him, that he used most of the profits from the oil that he nationalised for the benefit of the Iraqi people, with massive development of education, literacy, hospitals, infrastructure, distribution of free refrigerators and television, raising the status of women, and a secular not religion-dominated state, and thirdly, that he did not follow the posthoc defence advice of Sir James Keegan, defence editor of the London Daily Telegraph (Melbourne Age, 9 April). Keegan sees Hussein as an 'inept' general because his 'correct strategy' would have been to retreat 'leaving devastation behind', he should have sabotaged the port facilities, and blown up the bridges across the Tigris and Euphrates, that is, destroyed his country with himself. It is possible that recognition that Saddam was not entirely evil may be interpreted in 'black-and-white' as denying that he was also a tyrannical cruel aggressive megalomaniac better gone. Meanwhile, the nationalised oil may end up in private hands, possibly not even Iraqi, and much of Iraq and its civilisation and culture of a thousand years has been devastated by the military poundings of invaders, the vandalism of looters, and economic chaos.

In simple black-and-white, one more appalling dictator has hit the dust.

In more complex reality, internationally the rule of law has been broken, precedents for pre-emptive strikes by aggressors have been set, enemies of America are having a propaganda bonanza, the good that Americans have done is widely forgotten, the assumptions of civilisation have been given more loopholes to admit torture, assassination, and weapons of horrible destruction such as cluster bombs and landmines, with the expressed aim of saving freedom. And it must be said, with the expressed aim of making profits from rebuilding Iraq.

 

Peace-marchers have been demonstrating against war. How can they demonstrate for peace?

Peace-seekers are not discredited simply because overwhelming force has toppled a brutal dictator whose giant statues now also toppled throughout Iraq prove to the world his megalomania. As in most conquered countries, the mass of the Iraqi people will be grateful for the end of warfare and hope for better times without oppression.

 

We must keep on demonstrating for those better times - not only in Iraq. The world is full of powder-kegs.

What slogans for the demonstrators now? These must be based on thinking as well as feeling, knowledge as well as beliefs.

The black-and-white supporters of war have been given press publicity for the ignorance that the press has fostered, with widely expressed opinions such as

< It is very obvious that as far as the Peace Movement is concerned, Peace is exclusively about marching and violent demonstrations - which is why it is so unpopular>

 

The peace-movements themselves cannot be so black-and-white. Far more is needed for the rainbow colors of peace.

A JUST PEACE IN IRAQ