Arguing the Morality of Preventive War

Arthur Schlesinger Jr. says it well in his Aug. 15 commentary, “The Immorality of Preventive War”: “Unilateral preventive war is neither legitimate nor moral.” He argues that aggression by Iraq would play into American hands to give reason for attack and a regime change. Being an aggressor has not been the American way, and such an aggressive action by the U.S. would surely undermine our moral standing in the world. As a people and a nation, our country’s greatness has usually been enhanced when we are peace-seeking and working for the common good. We are diminished by actions that are destructive and aggressive.

And, if we go to war against Iraq, are we prepared for the ramifications--not just of casualties but also of what we will do to help rebuild a stable society? Do we have the resources to do that single-handedly? Aren’t we still struggling in another war, the war on terrorism? A war against Iraq will take away resources needed to help finish what we are doing in Afghanistan. We may not be for “peace at any cost”; however, we are not for war at the cost of undermining our moral integrity as a nation and at the risk of losing ground in our legitimate aims.

Georgie and David Saydak

Los Alamitos

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Schlesinger is one of our country’s most respected historians. However, after reading his commentary, I find that he remains in a 9/11 world. The greatest gift our country can give the Iraqi people and the entire world is the removal of Saddam Hussein from the control of the vast arsenal of weapons in Iraq. We owe it to the generations of Americans who have fought to keep our nation and the world safe from despots.

Hussein, I am confident, was given a copy of the commentary and laughed at how naive we Americans remain after 9/11. The whole world collectively condemned Israel when then-Prime Minister Menachem Begin sent its air force to destroy Hussein’s nuclear capability in 1981. But 10 years after that, the coalition forces sent to free Kuwait did not have to confront a nuclear-armed enemy. Our government will also be condemned when we free Iraq of Hussein. But it is the legitimate thing to do, and it would be immoral not to take action.

Avi Crane

Laguna Hills