ANTI-WAR HYPOCRISY

Whether you are politician, priest or pastor, everyone knows (as sad as the reality is) that there is nothing like a serious fight against terrorism in today’s world, without wars. Let’s not fool ourselves. This is the only language people like Saddam understand...” There is a time for war, a time for peace” (Eccles. 3:8)

I stand amazed at some of the anti-US sentiments coming against the US in the Iraqi war. On September 11, 2001 when Osama bin Laden flattened the World Trade Centre in New York, every one everywhere said, “America look for that,” since the superpower failed to “take out” bin Laden when it had the chance to do so, years earlier.

In the same breath, all the same tongues lambasted the elder Bush (former US President) for being “the big fool he was” for not “taking out” Saddam Hussein when he “came so close” in the Gulf War of 1991. When current US President George W Bush courageously proclaimed to a frightened and trembling world on the night of 9/11, “We will hunt them (the terrorists) down and smoke them out... not only them, but the nations that harbour them,” the entire “Free World” hailed him great hero and saviour, “Bomb the Taliban quick... and get Saddam!”, they screamed impatiently. Nobody cared about UN mandate.

Now, merely 18 months later, as Bush translates into proactive and pre-emptive action, the words for which he was so lustily applauded, we are hearing about “unjust war,” “arrogant Bush,” “America playing world police,” “Bush taking innocent lives” and Bla! Bla! Bla! Saddam is now hero and innocent darling, and Bush devil. Hypocrisy and massive self-deception! How the terrorists must be laughing at us! We are so pre-occupied with putting up a front of being “nice and politically correct,” that we create our own peril by playing right into the enemy’s hands in the very process.

You watch it, when Saddam is removed by this same war, these same anti-war grumblers will be among the first to rejoice and rush for post war Saddam benefits. Hypocrisy again! Whether you are politician, priest or pastor, everyone knows (as sad as the reality is) that there is nothing like a serious fight against terrorism in today’s world, without wars. Let’s not fool ourselves. This is the only language people like Saddam understand. No one wants the US to be a world bully or tyrant. Certainly not. And there is absolutely no sign of this from the US in this war on terrorism.

The US is no saint. This column has repeatedly criticised the superpower for many a faux pas. But what’s this nonsense about Bush being a Hitler by attacking Saddam? Hypocrisy again! Whatever her faults, America has well established herself as a tried, tested and proven bastion of democratic freedom. Because of the virtual martyr’s blood of multitudes of her sons, shed in war, we have much of the peace and freedom we all enjoy today.

If the UN is at variance with the US in this war, then blame the UN. Somebody at the UN doesn’t appear to understand how this thing works in today’s climate of unprecedentedly vicious terrorism. If innocent Iraqi people are dying in the war, Saddam is to blame for making them victims of his foolishness. If the UN Security Council wants to play blind with their petty political games in the face of stark naked terrorism danger, that’s their business. But Bush will be highly irresponsible in such a scenario to “abide” and continue to seriously risk the security of his people and the world by extension.

No right-thinking person will choose war over peace or the loss of innocent lives. But I cannot understand the thinking of those who are claiming that because innocent people are dying in this war, it is “unjust”. Is it that if the UN had sanctioned the war and it was a “just” one, no innocent people would die? The painful reality is that every “just” war in history has had the loss of innocent lives. Nevertheless, the greatest care must be taken to avoid casualties. In a biblical context, Christ himself died innocently in a bitter war for the salvation of the human soul. The Bible itself records numerous wars, many sanctioned by the Lord himself, for the destruction of evil. In fact, there was a special anointing given by God to many of the kings for fighting and winning wars. Joshua and David are two of the better known leaders of this ilk.

UN or no UN, America or no America, there are divine laws which are fulfilled in the affairs of life on a daily basis: “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Gal. 6:7). What has Saddam sown? I say no more! Christ warns about the inevitability of “wars and rumours of wars” (Matt. 24:6) in these last days. Paul, the Apostle, informs us that a head of State (Bush, for instance) is empowered by God to “use the sword (weapons of war) to execute judgment upon evil doers” — Rom 13:4. Wise King Solomon says that diplomacy (wisdom) “is better than war.” But if this fails, war may be necessary to deal with “the one sinner (Saddam?) That destroys much good” (Eccles. 9:18). He also states, “There is a time for war, a time for peace” (Eccles 3:8.)

The US has repeatedly made it clear that this war is not against Islam or the Muslim faith, but against terrorism. This is highly commendable. We must separate the two. Some scholars of religion may see a connection in the conflict between the two sons of Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac. The church’s preferred position is always peace, so as the word of God admonishes, we will continue to pray to this end so we may “live a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty.” (1 Tim 2:2)