A crime against humanity in the making
Barring a miracle it is now
almost certain that the war in Iraq will happen. It has been obvious for a very long time that George W. Bush and
Tony Blair have decided, long ago, that they need and want a war, whatever
happens or does not happen, whatever is found or not found by the inspector.
As a citizen, as a human being,
as a Christian and a monk, my conscience obliges me to denounce this war that
will be in many and every respect a crime against humanity. I accuse Bush, Blair and the members of their
coalition of the coerced of committing a crime against humanity.
The sheer number of innocent
civilians (certainly tens of thousands) and of as innocent young Iraqi soldiers
enrolled to defend their country, added to the utter destruction not only
of buildings but of every means of living that will be caused by the dropping
of tens of thousands tons of bombs in a few hours cannot be morally justified
in any way.
The war has already started
a long time ago. The first phase,
consisting of a huge campaign of disinformation has been extremely successful.
The second phase, consisting of creating a coalition of the coerced
through economic help or threats of withdrawing economic help has also been
successful. The total defeat of the Iraqi army is certain.
It could be realized in one day with a fraction of the forces amassed
in the region.
Many independent analysts
have demonstrated that the aim of the war is not removing Saddam but the control
of the reserves of petrol. The language
of the US administration during the last few days makes it very clear that
the goal is an occupation of the country. This, in conjunction with the incredibly arrogant
and often offensive way in which Bush talks down to the United Nations and
the world community as a führer threatening his recalcitrant troops, frighteningly
gives right to those who see beyond the case of Iraq a plan of global world
domination with a readiness to attack, down the road, any -- yes, any
-- nation that will not comply. "Those who are not with us are against
us", as we were told over and over again for more than a year.
This situation requires
us intensely to pray to God for a change of heart in all the persons involved,
beginning with each one of us. Prayer,
however, does not dispense us from speaking up.
With no other authority than that I have as a human being, a citizen
of the United States, and a citizen of the world, I accuse the planners of
this war of committing a crime against humanity and I beg them not to launch
each one of us with them in this spiral of evil.
February 14, 2003
Armand VEILLEUX, ocso