2 of 2

Because the Christian tradition teaches that nonviolent options must be exhausted before a country resorts to proportional and discriminate force,it was good for President Bush to make one final full-court press for United Nations inspectors to have complete access to every corner of Iraq. For the sake of building much-needed international support, this was the wise path .

If weapons inspections do go forward, let it be with no illusions. Hussein cares little for the welfare of his own people and little for world opinion. In 1968, Ramsey disparaged the liberals of his day who "face[d] down every fact with the myth that there is a nonviolent solution to every conflict." The truth is that some leaders, Saddam Hussein likely among them, are impervious to nonmilitary efforts.

Many prudential questions need to be asked. Would a regime change in Iraq bring greater freedom to its people? How much has Saddam Hussein's increased friendliness with neighboring Arab nations weakened their willingness to cooperate with a U.S. action against Iraq? If Saddam responds to an American attack by firing missiles at Tel Aviv, will it ignite a Mideast conflagration that cannot be extinguished? Can a military effort be carried out without placing civilians in the direct line of attack? Will America become mired in a long-term propping-up operation for a client regime that would never have sufficient support in its own country? (See our earlier coverage for how evangelical leaders are weighing such questions.)

If all the prudential and practical questioning points to the conclusion that Iraq or its proxies are about to use weapons of mass destruction—and that military action would not create catastrophe and chaos—then we believe, though with heavy hearts, that a pre-emptive strike could be considered just, and perhaps an act of Christian charity and duty.

Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

On Saturday, The New York Times ran a column by Peter Steinfels titled "Deaf Ears on Iraq". In it he writes, "It is interesting how little has been made of the declarations by so many Christian leaders and ethicists that the Bush Administration's proposed war against Iraq is unjust and immoral."

Recent Christianity Today articles about U.S. Foreign policy and Iraq include:

Christian Leaders Respond to Bush's National Security Strategy | The White House outlines foreign policy in a changing world. (September 25, 2002)

Is Attacking Iraq Moral? | Christian leaders disagree, too. (September 4, 2002)

first page |  2 of 2

share this page

September (Web-only) 2002, Vol. 46