Letter: Opponents of war with Iraq should actively protest

As the George W. Bush administration takes us to the brink of war with Iraq, students across America are raising questions about the likely consequences of an invasion. Here at Duke, a number of us have formed a student group to generate discussion and mobilize against the war.

We believe the administration's present course is extremely dangerous, posing serious risks to the peoples of America, Iraq and the wider world. The national security benefits that allegedly justify those risks are, as far as available evidence indicates, fictional: Despite unsubstantiated insinuation from on high, there is no convincing evidence of a link between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda. Furthermore, according to CIA director George Tenet, the probability of Iraq attacking America in the foreseeable future is low, unless we first invade.

The risks are large. An invasion would raise the specter of last-ditch, no-holds-barred retaliation by Saddam Hussein, because deterrence disappears when "regime change" is inevitable. Anti-American sentiment would be inflamed throughout the Middle East, thereby drawing recruits to al Qaeda and increasing the probability of future terrorist attacks.

Furthermore, an invasion could have catastrophic consequences for the Iraqi civilian population, which has already suffered horribly under the weight of a decade of U.N. sanctions. And a pre-emptive strike would set a terrifying precedent in international affairs, especially in the context of the administration's new policy allowing for first use of nuclear weapons. Bush's biggest allies in his push toward war are ignorance and complacency. Therefore, we are planning a number of events, both large and small, to spread awareness and spur action in the coming weeks. These will include information sessions, public discussions and rallies as well as other more imaginative anti-war actions. We urge you to become involved: We meet every Monday at 9:30 p.m. in Soc Sci 111. Contact us at ss98@duke.edu to find out how you can help out or for more information.

The writers are members of Duke Against the War in Iraq.