'Bush, Blair should be taken to court'

'Bush, Blair should be taken to court'

Opposition, condemnation and protests against the U.S.-led attack
on Iraq are mounting around the world. The war has been deemed to
be against humanity and a threat to world peace. The Jakarta Post
asked some city residents for their comments on the war.

Joko Supriadi, 44, is a secretary for a mass organization who
resides in Matraman, Central Jakarta, with his wife and two
children:

I think the war is totally unfair. Bush and his allies have
been pressuring Saddam Hussein to disarm for a long time.

How can a war be fair if one side has many kinds of weaponry
at its disposal and the other only uses swords? Needless to say,
the U.S. will win the war.

I intend to call on people to voice their concerns
about Bush's arrogant aggression. Iraq is a sovereign country
despite its small size.

So why don't we stage rallies to in solidarity with the
Iraqis? They have their freedom as an independent country. Iraq
does not deserve to be treated in such a way that even Saddam
could be toppled.

I am completely at odds with the misguided belief that it is
a religious war. It's a totally wrong and narrow-minded view.

I think the United Nations should be held responsible for this
intolerable action. At least U.S. President George W Bush and
British Prime Minister Tony Blair should be brought before an
international court and tried for genocide.

In addition, our representatives at the House of
Representative and the government should not sleep and just
accept money from people. They must do something in response to
this unfair war.

Cholis, 30, is unemployed and resides in Pejaten, South
Jakarta, with friends:

I think war is such a silly idea in a modern world. It would
be far better for the Iraqi troops to surrender to the U.S. and
its allies.

Their surrender would benefit them, and at least they would
still be alive. Being killed in that kind of war would be
ridiculous.

It is unlikely that Iraq will win due to the uneven military
might involved and there is no use in its troops continuing to
defend the country from an allied attack.

Besides, what would they actually fight for? They would be
fighting for nothing because the war is about the egos of the
Iraq and the U.S. leaders.

Surrender would minimize the casualties on both sides. Above
all, it would prevent gross violations of human rights, if I
might say.

On the other hand, if Indonesia continues to stage rallies to
protest, it will come to nothing. But I can understand the
protesters in a way.

Yanto, 56, is a retired civil servant who is currently serving
as a neighborhood unit chief in Palmerah, Central Jakarta. He
lives with his wife and three children:

I think the war in Iraq is irrational. For instance, even if
Iraq did have weapons of mass destruction, the U.S., as a
superpower, obviously has far more advanced and destructive
weaponry. It's unfair.

Both Bush and Saddam are just arrogant leaders who want to
fight for the sake of pride. They don't side with their innocent
people at all.

They are obstinate presidents. It would be better for them to
fight a duel, which would stop them from victimizing innocent
civilians.

In my opinion, it is of no avail to fight a superpower like
America.

I'm of the opinion that it would be better for the smaller
country to surrender to the more powerful country. Admitting
defeat would in a way create peace as the superpower, the
arrogant country, would help nurture those who obey them.

If Iraq were to surrender, the U.S. would stop waging war and
that would save many lives. Iraq would also no longer face
economic sanctions. Surrendering would be the safest way to
survive.

I think surrendering would also be favorable for our country
under the same circumstances. We could bow to the superpower to
acknowledge its power without losing our sovereignty. By being
concerned only about our self-esteem or pride, we would be
harming our country because we could not possibly compare
ourselves with powers like the U.S. and its allies.

Peace and the survival of many lives are far more crucial. War
is no longer acceptable in this era.

I completely disagree with the idea to boycott the products of
the U.S. and its allies. It's stupid and would be impossible
because we are dependent upon such countries. We have to admit
that our people have not reached the stage of brilliance where we
can be independent. That's why the other countries tend to play
the fool with us.

-- Leo Wahyudi S