Opinion

Anti-war is not un-American

Samira Zaidi
Opinion Columnist

Here we are, in the midst of "Operation Iraqi Destruction, part two."

Donald Rumsfeld, the neo-Reaganite hawk, who after Sept. 11, 2001, was against Colin Powellis policy of leaving Iraq alone while searching for the terrorists, has come swooping down again. 

In front of TV cameras with that wide, foolish grin, he claims Iraq is committing a "war crime" by burning oil wells and demands our POWs better be treated according to the Geneva Convention, despite the displaying of Iraqi prisoners of war on American media.

By George, he doesnit mean the Geneva Convention established by the United Nations, the very organization we deemed irrelevant, does he? The same Geneva Convention we chose to ignore?

Itis ironic that we are in this war "to save the Iraqis"­ after our generous sanctions and depleted uranium, they should be celebrating our arrival.

Nothing says liberation like lost limbs and dysentery.

In case the government has made you forget, let me remind you intelligent folks about how we betrayed these very people we want to liberate.

In 1991, during the first Gulf War, multitudes of Kurdish refugees were forced to leave their homes, pack their belongings on their bare backs and go through the mountains as we watched them suffer. 

For weeks these human beings had no shelter, no food, and at home Bush Sr. was celebrating. 

Finally, two weeks later, as even hardened American troops felt anguish at the Kurdsi situation, Bush Sr. ordered encampments and relief aid to be set up. 

Which really meant tents and bread being thrown out of an airplane. 

A sobbing refugee said in interview, "Saddam has been bombing us, and we have no help. You see it" ­ pointing to American soldiers ­ "and do nothing; arenit we all human beings?"

But forget how we left the north aching. In southern Iraq, we encouraged the Shiite majority to rise up and counter the Iraqi forces, and then we stood by and watched while hundreds of thousands of them were slaughtered right in front of us.

American troops just shrugged. What could they do? They had orders not to interfere, only instigate.

So is it a surprise that anti-war protesters have taken to the streets demanding justice and accountability? Itis not about being against America; itis about being a real American and standing up for what is right.

Last week during the anti-war rally/teach-in at UH, a pro-war "pro-USA" faction formed ­ mostly white male duplicates of our government officials. 

I went to the rally and heard bits and pieces of the arguments that the "pro-USA" spat out to justify the war.

"Heis a dictator," yelled one. Hmm, was Saddam a dictator when we supported him in the 1980s? 

"Do you want to get nuked?" exclaimed another. By the weapons we provided? Wow, I never knew the outdated equipment Saddam has could actually travel over the Atlantic.

They probably figured Iraq was as close as Canada. Iill give them the benefit of the doubt; maybe their baseball caps were on too tight. Looks like the future of our government is in good hands.

Frankly, I just think they came to the wrong rally because it wasnit about being anti-USA, it was about being anti-war. 

As we enjoy our freedoms in the United States of America, others should have the right to do the same ­ that's not anti-American.

Zaidi, a senior communication major, can be reached at greeneggs34@hotmail.com.