Catholic Layman's Justification of the War in Iraq--Part IV

First, my apologies in taking so long to post this last part of the "Catholic Layman's Justification of the War in Iraq". I encourage you all to read parts I, II, and III. Below is part IV.


The authors write, "no credible evidence has been produced" to show that Iraq, 1) sponsored al Qaeda, 2) trained terrorists, or 3) possessed WMD. I would say this is an opinion, for there actually is evidence. It is one thing to argue over the thoroughness of the evidence and quite another to suggest there is no evidence whatsoever. Again, every intelligence agency in the world believed Iraq possessed WMD. Even France. In re: to training terrorists, the authors need only look to Salmon Pak. Salmon Pak, near Baghdad, was a a training base for foreign terrorists that included the fuselage of a jumbo jet believed by investigators to be part of training for hijackers. In re: to sponsoring al Qaeda, the evidence points to the Iraqi regime allowing al Qaeda operatives in Northern Iraq. As well, the tale of Zarqawi coming from Afghanistan to Iraq shows another link. For more detailed evidence read this TechCentral article.

As for the "great damage and disorder" produced as a result of the war, I would remind the authors that ALL wars lead to "great damage and disorder". That is the nature of war, and if that is a reason to not fight it, then all wars must be unjust. This is not what the Catholic Church teaches though. Given the logic of the authors, it seems that even World War II would have been unjust. Nevertheless, let us look at the "damage and disorder" the authors believe has been brought about because of the war in Iraq:

"Vital alliances strained and international goodwill squandered"? Why is it important that we have strong relations with the same nations which were being bought off by the Iraqi regime with oil money from the UN Oil-for-Food program? With the same nations which supplied military equipment to the Iraqi military? With the same nations which had lucrative oil contracts (setup for the post-sanctions period) with the Iraqi regime? With the same nations which have stated they intend to do little to help in terms of 'boots-on-the-ground'? A little known fact about one of our "allies" is that the A-10 fighter shot down west of Baghdad during the war was hit by a French made and recently supplied Roland surface-to-air missile. The United States Air Force pilot survived, but what if he had been killed? Given all this, why is it so important to appease the French government? And do the French even care about the alliance? I think what they did care about was keeping the status quo in Iraq. There was nothing President Bush could have said or done to bring the French on board. And the division with France runs deeper than the war in Iraq. Just within the last few months the French president warned of the "catastrophe" of the spreading American culture. They resent us, our economic wealth, our military capability, and our cultural influence on the rest of the world. It has little to do with the war in Iraq. Minus an Iraq war (and a Bush administration), our relations would still be strained.

I submit that the responsibility for maintaining strong alliances does not only fall to the United States alone. It seems Kerry Catholics suggest it does, but I would argue (if they allowed it) that responsiblity also falls to the Germans and French and Russians.

What about the claim that the war "provoked outrage and anti-American sentiment throughout the Arab and Muslim world"? It is not the war that provoked the outrage. If it was, then how do the authors explain the 9/11 attacks, the attack on the USS Cole, the African embassy bombings, the Khobar Towers bombing, the first WTC attack, the bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, the Achille Lauro hijacking, or the Pan Am Flight 103 downing over Scotland? These all occurred prior to the war in Iraq. What provokes this outrage is our unabashed support for Israel. The war in Iraq is a wakeup call to Arabs and Muslims. Arab leaders must resolve to change their ways, as Muhamar Qadafi has done, or face the wrong end of an M-16 will hiding in their own rat holes. Young Muslims, such as those in Iran, are now more embolden to demand change, for a true democracy with real freedoms is emerging to the west of them. If there is any new outrage, it is because Muslim fundamendalists have been put on notice. They are fearful of the changes coming, and rightly so.

As for the "growing insurgency", it is in check in Iraq instead of New York or San Francisco, and likely would not be if we had not brought the war to them. I give thanks and pray for those men and women fighting in Iraq. Yes, they are in harm's way, but they are truly, truly keeping our families safe here in the states. For that we should all be grateful. I can see how some may see us as less safe now, but the arguments for being more safe are sound and firm and less emotional than the arguments that we are not.

At the end of their writing the authors cite Scripture, comparing King Herod and his decision to handle the threat the Christ child posed to him to President Bush and his decision to deal with the threat the Iraqi regime was to the United States and the world. As if the threat the Iraqi regime posed to the United States and the world can be compared to the coming of Christ. How profane! How sad to see Scripture used in such a way. The authors fail to see the real connection Scripture and Tradition have with CJW teaching. CJW teachings comes out of a sense of charity. St Thomas Aquinas located his just war discussion in the Summa within his treatise on charity. The teachings also come from a moral obligation to defend those who are threatened. It can be argued that the basis of CJW teaching can be tied in with the Great Commandment. "One manifests love of neighbor, after all, by protecting the innocent and their families from imminent and grave attack." ("The War is Just", Kmiec, NRO, 7 Mar 2003). President Bush has led, and will continue to lead, our nation in doing just that. Some may disagree that it is just, and that is their right. But I hope serious Catholics can see there are arguments both for and against a just war in Iraq.