Professor Daniel Pope and Bo Adan expressed concern (ODE, Feb. 24) that war is “the enemy of the constitutional freedoms of speech, assembly and association.” It’s true that war has traditionally jeopardized these rights — temporarily. They tend to be put back in place after our conflicts have ended. However, this fact does not mean that war should never be an option. A threat to the security of the United States and its people presents a much greater enemy to our Constitution than any war we’ve ever fought, let alone started.
That being said, I am against this war. I do not feel that Iraq is a threat to the United States. Even long-time enemy and next-door neighbor Iran feels that U.N. inspections are all that is necessary. With inspections teams on the ground in Iraq, I find it hard to believe that Saddam Hussein can continue to manufacture his weapons of mass destruction. No other country on Earth is currently under a finer microscope. Additionally, no one seems to be able to come up with proof that Saddam’s regime has connections with al-Qaida. The White House tried to convince us differently a few weeks ago when the newest tape from Osama bin Laden was released. However, nowhere in the transcripts of the tape did bin Laden claim to be working with Saddam. In fact, the irony is that the people he claims al-Qaida should support are the Muslim masses of Iraq, the very same masses we claim to support in our invasion rationale.
Lastly, I would say to the University Assembly: Do not vote in favor of this resolution. Do not vote in favor of any resolution regarding the war — whether for or against — as it is not your place. It is not the place of a University to make a stand for or against national policy. This University is supposed to be a place for the free exchange of ideas, but when the institution itself takes political sides, that exchange is stifled.
It is simply wrong for the University itself to take sides in this debate.
Andrew McQuade is a graduate student
in the business school.
For additional stories relating to the University Assembly, follow this link to Oregon Daily Emerald StoryLinks.