American invasion of Iraq not unethical
Invading Iraq cannot be paralleled to terrorist attacks because the government has rights and responsibilities individual citizens do not.
COMMENTARY
Christopher Suffron

Last week, in one of my classes, we had a long discussion about whether or not an American invasion of Iraq would be as reprehensible as the terrorist attacks last year. The class argued going into a foreign land to overthrow a government and killing civilians in the process was just as wrong as any terrorist attack.

They were, in fact, wrong. If America went into Iraq, it would do so as an established government, whereas the terrorists carried out their deeds as individuals.

Governments do not operate under the same rules as individuals. Just as the government has the right to fine people for breaking the law and I do not, governments can do things, such as wage war, that would be immoral for any individual. Governments in the past, such as Nazi Germany and Iraq itself, have clearly participated in unethical behavior, but invading Iraq would not be one of those.

Why are you excusing the actions of America while condemning the actions of other countries, you ask. Is it because you like Bush and agree with everything he says? No, the reason I defend Bush is this: Our government must first look out for the safety of its citizens, and if there is a threat to the their safety, the government must take action.

The president and Congress have been commissioned by the American citizens and by God to look after the rights of the inhabitants of the United States of America. (I mention God because any discussion of morals without the mention of Him would be in and of itself unethical.)

It is the government’s obligation to take steps to keep our country safe. People are already outraged because they think the government could have prevented last year’s terrorist attacks. Could you imagine what the outcry would be if we did not try to stop Iraq from building weapons of mass destruction and they dropped a nuclear bomb on Houston? Our government must keep that kind of catastrophe from happening, to not do so would be reckless and ignorant.

But what makes American lives more important than Iraqi lives? Nothing. But it is neither the president’s nor Congress’s job to look out for their safety. It is Saddam Hussein who is accountable before God for the safety of the Iraqi people and ultimately the fate of his citizenry lies on his head.

Is Iraq a real threat? Should we go to war? I don’t know. That is why I elect people to make that kind of decision for me.

Christopher Suffron is a senior accounting major from League City.