Just an idea on how to avoid the illegal war or have a cease-fire after a few days:
The newest American reason for war is regime change. They want to bring democracy to Iraq.
Unfortunately, Iraqi citizens have not been asked if they wish that to happen. Why not? All kind of positions have been stated by all kinds of actors in the debate. Why not ask the Iraqi people?
Well, one problem might be that any vote of the Iraqi people on the matter might be dismissed as not obtained in a free election. That's where my idea comes in.
Send some UN vote inspectors in and have them organize a free vote. Ask Iraqi voters if they want to be liberated by military force or prefer to be ruled by Saddam Hussein. This obviously would need the cooperation of the Iraqi government.
This vote would have no legal force. But its moral force would be quite strong. Obviously, you can't very well use military force to "bring democracy to Iraq" if a democratic vote tells the world that this would not be welcome. If on the other hand the Iraqi people actually ask for liberation, that would give some credibility to the war. And it might help persuade Saddam Hussein to leave without war.
Since no one knows how that vote would go, it would be a gamble for both sides. And a way out for all parties involved without losing face.
And since there would no legal force from any vote of the Iraqi people, this could be done with a vote in only a part of the country. That means this would be one way to stop on the road to Baghdad. Assume the Americans have "liberated" Al Basra, a town in the south of Iraq close to Kuweit, likely to fall early in the campaign. Then such a vote could be taken in that city.
Or the UN could take seriously the American wish for democracy in Iraq and send vote inspectors now, organizing a vote, if the Iraqi government agrees.
This could be done easily. So if that "democracy to Iraq" statement is not just another propaganda spin, I would like to see some serious discussion about asking the Iraqi people. After all, it's their country.
Posted by Karl-Friedrich Lenz at March 11, 2003 11:29 AM | TrackBackKarl, they don't want regime change. 99.9% voted for Saddam. They want Saddam to stay and so do I. We are picking on him. He is abiding to the UN inspectors. He is destroying weapons so what is the problem. I can't believe Bush thinks these people are repressed. All the video I see from Baghdad looks like they are a happy, fun loving group.
Posted by: Ed on March 14, 2003 01:19 AMI am not sure if that 99,9 percent vote is real. But the only way to find out would be to ask the Iraqi people and making sure the vote would be free by having it done by the U.N., or in "liberated" parts of the country early on in the campaign.
Posted by: Karl-Friedrich Lenz on March 14, 2003 02:43 PM