A case for war

No Coalition military briefing omits a strong expression by Allied military leaders of their continuing attempts to conduct this combat in ways that minimise to the greatest possible extent any injury to local inhabitants.

Can anyone recall such a paramount humanist preoccupation by any government in any earlier war? Media accounts from Baghdad in the past few days support this point. Television regularly shows that huge expanses of the city are untouched, and people are able to go about their daily business apparently aware that no indiscriminate Allied bombing will take place.

The nearly 50 members of the Coalition to liberate Iraq and destroy its Weapons of Mass Destruction profoundly want blameless Iraqis to live to see a much brighter tomorrow safe from Saddam Hussein8217;s terror. However, his death squads have made this determined central humanitarian goal of the Coalition much more difficult to realise.

As President Bush observed on April 5, 8220;In combat, Saddam8217;s thugs shield themselves with women and children. They have killed Iraqi citizens who welcome Coalition troops, and they have forced other Iraqis into battle by threatening to torture or kill their families. They have executed prisoners of war, waged attacks under the white flag of truce and concealed combat forces in civilian neighborhoods, schools, hospitals and mosques.

In this war, the Iraqi regime is terrorising its own citizens, doing everything possible to maximise Iraqi civilian casualties, and then to exploit the deaths they have caused for propaganda.8221;

This cynical use by Saddam8217;s henchmen of defenseless Iraqis as human shields is yet one more example of the Iraqi dictator8217;s brutal rule over more than 20 years. But it should come as no surprise. As Max van der Stoel, the United Nations8217; former special rapporteur on Iraq, has stressed, the Saddam establishment is 8220;the most ruthless dictatorship and totalitarian regime ever seen by the world since the Second World War.8221;

Indeed, it is now clear for all to see that the liberating Coalition cares much more about the well-being of the Iraqi people than does Saddam8217;s murderous administration. Using the most sophisticated precision weapons ever seen on a battlefield, Coalition military planners pore over their maps and make targeting decisions designed to avoid civilian deaths and injuries.

Indeed, many lucrative regime military objectives have not been attacked because they are too near to civilian concentrations as Saddam Hussein8217;s clique moves tanks, artillery and other military equipment next to and sometimes inside of civilian facilities 8212; including mosques.

In order to counter this and to minimise the danger to civilians largely created by Saddam Hussein8217;s regime itself, Coalition forces are conducting non-stop radio broadcasts to give detailed instructions of how non-combatants can stay out of harm8217;s way. Millions of pamphlets have been dropped with similar warning messages. Coalition leaders want Iraqis to know that they are conducting military operations in ways that try to keep the citizens of Iraq out of danger.

Despite this enormous effort, civilian casualties do tragically occur. One innocent life lost is one too many. But even in this high-tech war, accidents happen. So throughout this campaign, Coalition authorities have urgently investigated each such incident as it is reported in order to prevent future mistakes. Consistent with free and open societies, there is no attempt by the Allies to hide these deeply saddening occurrences.

Iraqis are gradually losing their long-time fear of the regime, and welcoming Coalition Forces into their cities, towns and villages, as they did in An-Najaf. Thanks to the US 101st Airborne Division, An-Najaf8217;s children are now securely returning to school for the first time since hostilities began.

Press stories from Basra on April 7 stated that, 8220;Many residents joyously watched the British tanks roll in, shouting 8216;No Saddam!8217; and flashing thumbs-up signs. 8216;I feel very happy because we have freedom for the first time,8217; said Ali Ibrahim Hussein, 35, a teacher8230;8221;

Ayatollah Ali Mohammed Sistani is the undisputed A8217;alam al-Ulema the most learned of the learned of the Mullahs who minister to the religious needs of Shiites, 60 per cent of Iraq8217;s population. This week he will resume lectures, banned by the Saddam regime for seven years, at the oldest Shiite seminary.

The Ayatollah said he had advised believers not to hinder the forces of liberation, and help bring this war against the tyrant to a successful end for the Iraqi people 8216;8216;8230; Our people need freedom more than air to breathe. Iraq has suffered, and it deserves better government.8217;8217;

Other Iraqis are actively helping the Coalition fight the regime. Apart from the Kurdish forces in the north, perhaps the best-known example of this is the rescue of US Army Pfc Jessica Lynch. Her freedom was secured after an Iraqi man, sickened by the abuse she had suffered at the hands of her captors, informed US troops of her whereabouts and then risked his own life by returning to the hospital to diagram the posting of Iraqi guards. American forces used his map to free Lynch.

Her Iraqi rescuer told the press 8220;Iraq is not a safe place while Saddam Hussein is in power. He kills the Iraqi people whenever he wants. I believe the Americans will bring peace and security to the people of Iraq. America came here to help us.8221;

Operation Desert Storm in 1991 was waged over six weeks. The battle against Al-Qaeda and Taliban main units in Afghanistan was fought in nine weeks. The Kosovo operation lasted 11 weeks. It has been just three weeks since this conflict began. The Coalition8217;s battle plan has been implemented with consummate skill. The end result is certain.

As President Bush said on March 26: 8220;I assure the long-suffering people of Iraq, there will be a day of reckoning for the Iraqi regime, and that day is drawing near.8221; Today, that day is nearer still.

The writer is the US ambassador to India