Opinion

People of Iraq deserve aid from the U.S.

Terri Miller
Guest Columnist

Let me start by stating how glad I am to live in a country that affords its citizens the liberty to voice their opinions on editorial pages in various newspapers throughout the land. Let me also say that these opinions do not always find themselves based on fact; opinions do not need to be factual to be believed by many.

Having said this, I would like to take the opportunity to clear up some misinformation Iive read recently. While it may be true that Saddam Hussein has not dropped a cluster bomb on an Iraqi marketplace (although it now seems that this is exactly what happened), he is a cruel, evil man who takes delight in torturing those who oppose him. 

Atrocities such as unleashing biological and chemical weapons on his own citizenry, cutting out the tongues of those who speak against him, the use of very large plastic shredders -- not for the shredding of plastic -- and rape are just a few of the tricks Saddam's bag. While it is clear that his regime has no such weapon that could be launched from Iraq and land on the shores of the United States, it is all too feasible to think he would sell or possibly give weapons of mass destruction to those who wish to do us harm.

The damage done by the current Iraqi government does not need to come in the form of a bomb or missile. It would most probably be in a much more sinister form, possibly from a crop duster, mosquito-spraying truck or small vial of anthrax. This country already knows what anthrax can do. For someone to think we are so stupid we fear Saddam nuking us is preposterous.

Furthermore, about our supposed lack of compassion for the Kurds and Shiites after the 1991 war: It was the United Nations which kept the United States from doing anything other than removing Hussein from Kuwait. Had it not been for an organization that has proven itself to be impotent, these peoples would have been taken care of by the U.S. troops. Instead, the troops were forced to stand by and watch the horrors take place. 

Saddam's regime is not to be trusted in any way. He encourages terrorism by paying families of homicide bombers for their loss. Donit think for one minute that he wouldnit delight in the fall of America.

The people of Iraq deserve more. They deserve to enjoy the same freedoms that Americans take for granted every day. Unfortunately, under the current Iraqi regime they do not have this luxury.

America is the home of the free because of the brave. It is not bad to protect ourselves from those who wish to do us harm or destroy our way or life. Nor is it wrong to bring down a heinous dictator who terrorizes his own citizens.

I am by no means "pro-war." I am a proud American and thank God every day I was blessed to be born in this great country. God bless America and our troops.

Miller, a junior psychology and political science major, can be reached via dccampus@mail.uh.edu.