Diskussionsbeiträge
der Projektgruppe Friedensforschung Konstanz, Nr. 53, 2004
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2 | Evaluation of the war parties' rights and intentions |
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E2 | Escalation-oriented pole: Antagonism |
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E2.2 |
Idealization of one's own rights and intentions |
Example E2.2.1 |
New York Times, 17.01.1991
Comments
by Bush on the Air Strikes Against the Iraquis
Just
two hours ago, allied air forces began an attack on military targets in Iraq
and Kuwait. These attacks continue as I speak. Ground forces are not engaged.
This conflict started Aug. 2, when the dictator of Iraq invaded a small and
helpless neighbor. Kuwait, a member of the Arab League and a member of the United
Nations, was crushed, its people brutalized. Five months ago, Saddam Hussein
started, this cruel war against Kuwait; tonight, the battle has been joined.
This military action, taken in accord with United Nations resolutions and with
the consent of the United States Congress, follows months of consent and virtually
endless diplomatic activity on the part of the United Nations, the United States
and many, many other countries.
Arab leaders sought what became known as an Arab solution, only to conclude
that Saddam Hussein was unwilling to leave Kuwait. Others traveled to Baghdad
in a variety of efforts to restore peace and justice. Our Secretary of State,
James Baker, held an historic meeting in Geneva, only to be totally rebuffed.
This past weekend, in a last-ditch effort, the Secretary General of the United
Nations went to the Mittle East with peace in his heart - his second such mission.
And he came back from Baghdad with no progress at all in getting Saddam Hussein
to withdraw from Kuwait.
No Choice but to Attack
Now,
the 28 contries with forces in the gulf area have exhausted all reasonable efforts
to reach a peaceful resolution, and have no choice but to drive Saddam from
Kuwait by force. We will not fail.
As I report to you, air attacks are under way against military tragets in Iraq.
We are determined to knock out Sammam Hussein's nuclear bomb potential. We will
also destroy his chemical weapons facilities. Much of Saddam's artillery and
tanks will be destroyed. Our operations are designed to best protect the lives
of all the coalition forces by targeting Saddam's vast military arsenal.
Initial reports from General Schartzkopf are that our operations are proceeding
according to plan. Our objectives are clear: Saddam Hussein's
forces will leave Kuwait. The legitimate government
of Kuwait will be restored to its rightful place, and Kuwait will once again
be free.
Iraq will eventually comply with all relevant United Nations resolutions, and
then, when peace is restored, it is our hope that Iraq will live as a peaceful
and cooperative member of the family of nations, thus enhancing the security
and stability of the gulf.
"Why Not Wait?"
Some
may ask, why act now? Why not wait? The answer is clear. The world could wait
not longer. Sanctions, though having some effect, showed no signs of accomplishing
their objective. Sanctions were tried for well over five months, and we and
our allies concluded that sanctions alone would not force
Saddam from Kuwait.
While the world waited, Saddam Hussein systematically raped, pillaged and plundered
a tiny nation no threat to his own. He subjected the people of Kuwai t to unspeakable
atrocities, and among those maimed and murdered, innocent children.
While the world waited, Saddam
sought, to add to the chemical weapons arsenal he now possesses, an infinitely
more dangerous weapon of mass destruction - a nuclear weapon. And while the
world waited, while the world talked peace and withdrawal, Saddam Hussein dug
in and moved massive forces into Kuwait.
While the world waited, while Saddam stalled, more damage was being done to
the fragile economies of the Third World, emerging democracies of Eastern Europe,
to the entire world, including to our own economy.
The United States, together
with the United Nations, exhausted every means at our disposal to bring the
crisis to a peaceful end. However, Saddam clearly felt that by stalling and
threatening and defying the United Nations, he could weaken the forces arrayed
against him.
While the world waited, Saddam Hussein met every overture of peace with open
contempt. While the world prayed for peace, Saddam prepared for war.
I had
hoped that when the United States Congress, in historic debate, took its resolute
action, Saddam would realize he could not prevail, and would move out of Kuwait
in accord with the United Nations resolutions. He did not do that. Instead,
he remained intransigent, certain that time was on his side. Saddam
was warned over and over again to comply with the will of the
United Nations, leave Kuwait or be driven out. Saddam has arrogantly rejected
all warnings. Instead he tried to make this a dispute between Iraq an the United
States of America.
Well he failed. Tonight 28 nations - countries from five continents,
Europe and Asia, Africa and the Arab Leage have forcees in the Gulf area standing
shoulder to shoulder against Saddam Hussein. These contries
had hoped the use of force could be avoided. Regrettably, we now believe
that only force will make him leave.
Prior to ordering our forces
into battle, I instructed our military commanders to take every necessary step
to prevail as quickly as possible, and with the greatest degree of protection
possible for American and Allied servicemen and women. I've told the American
people before that this will not be another Vietnam, and I repeat this here
tonight. Our troops will have the best possible suppport in the entire world,
and they will not be asked to fight with one hand tied behind their back. I'm
hopeful that this fighting will not go on for long and that casualities will
be held to an absolut minimum.
An Historic Moment'
This
is an historic moment. We have in this past year made great progress
in ending the long era of conflict and cold war. We have
before us the opportunity to forge for ourselves and or future generations a
new world order, a world where the rule of law, not the law of the jungle, governs
the conduct of nations.
When we are successful, and we will be, we have a real
chance at this new world order, an order in which a credible United Nations
can use its peacekeepng role to fulfill the promise and vision of the U.N.'s
founders. We hav no argument with the people of Iraq. Indeed, for the
innocents caught in this conflict I pray for their safety.
Our goal is not the conquest of Iraq. It
is the liberation of Kuwait. It is my hope that somehow the Iraqi people
can, even now, convince their dictator that he must lay down his arms leave
Kuwait and let Iraq itself rejoin the familiy of peace loving nations.
Thomas Paine wrote many years ago: "These are the
times that try men's souls." Those well-known words are so very true today.
But even as planes of the multi-national forces attack Iraq, I prefer to think
of peace, not war. I am convinced not only that we will prevail, but that out
of the horror of combat will come the recognition that no nation can stand against
a world united. No nation will be permitted to brutally assault its neighbor.
No President can easily commit
our sons and daughters to war. They are the nation's finest.
Ours is an all-volunteer force, magnificently trained,
highly motivated. The troops know why they're there. And listen to what they
say, because they've said it better than any President or Prime Minister ever
could. Listen to Hollywool Huddleston, Marine
lance corporal. He says: "Let's free these people
so we can go home and be free again."
And he's right. The terrible crimes and tortures
committed by Saddam's henchmen against the innocent people of Kuwait are an
affront to mankind and a challenge to the freedom of all.
Worth Fighting For'
Listen
to one of our great officers out there, Marine Lieut. Gen. Walter Boomer.
He said: "There are things
worth fighting for. A world in which brutality and lawlessness
are allowed to go unchecked isn't the kind of world we're going to want to live
in."
Listen to Master Sgt. J.P. Kendall of the 82d Airborne:
"We're here for more than just the price of a gallon
of gas. What we're doing is going to chart the future of the world for the next
hundred years. It's better to deal with this guy now than five years
from now."
And finally, we should all sit up and listen to Jackie Jones, an Army lieutnant,
when she says, "If we let him get away with this, who knows what's going
to be next."
I've
called upon Hollywood and Walter and J.P. and Jackie and all their courageous
comrades-in-arms to do what must be done. Tonight, America and the world are
deeply grateful to them and to their
families.
And let me say to everyone listening or watching tonight: When the troops we've
sent in finish their work, I'm determined to bring them home as soon as possible.
Tonight, as our forces fight, they and their families are in our prayers.
May God bless each and every one of them and the coalition
of forces at our side in the Gulf, and may He continue to bless our nation,
the United States of America.
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