On antiwar demonstrations<\/p>\n
In the Feb. 26 edition of The Jakarta Post, Spartz laments
\nthe worldwide antiwar protests, but has taken his axe to the
\nwrong tree. The issue is not Saddam Hussein's crimes, which are
\nwell known to the whole world. Nobody has forgotten them, and no
\none is defending him.<\/p>\n
Protesters are also very familiar with atrocities in Africa
\nand other places, and they also know that for decades The Great
\nSavior, America, was nowhere to be seen.<\/p>\n
Anyway, the point of the protests is not whether Saddam
\nHussein should be removed, or whether his borders "should at all
\ncosts remain inviolate", but whether America has the right to
\nproclaim itself Commander of the World, announce which country it
\nintends to invade, and expect the whole world to trot along
\nbehind. Many millions of people all over the world do not think
\nso, and have duly expressed their opinion in public.<\/p>\n
Spartz continues: "Iraq's fate and political future should be
\neveryone's concern and not that of the U.S. alone". But Spartz,
\nthat's precisely the point, don't you get it? It is America's
\nattempted bullying of the United Nations as well as European
\ncountries that is stifling democratic expression of that concern.<\/p>\n
Another consideration driving protests against this
\nforthcoming war is the worldwide perception that no sooner will
\nDonald Rumsfeld's tanks have rolled into Iraq than Dick Cheney's
\ndrilling-rigs will roll in behind them. America has a lot yet to
\ndo to convince everyone of the sincerity of its motives, and that
\nit cares what the rest of the world thinks. Until then, protests
\nare likely to continue.<\/p>\n
JOHN HUMPHRIES
\n Jakarta<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/on-antiwar-demonstrations-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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