when is war worth it; the conflict with iraq present and past

Essay by radiator25High School, 11th gradeA-, January 2003

download word file, 3 pages 3.7 2 reviews

Downloaded 161 times

Recently, the actions of the country of Iraq have caught the attention of politicians worldwide. Some feel that Saddam Hussein's refusal to allow United Nations weapons inspectors into his country is grounds for war. The possibility that Iraq has access to nuclear and biological weapons is enough of a threat for some to warrant attacks directed at the Iraqi government. Others believe that no good can come of the situation and wish to avoid war at all costs. This raises the international question of when is war worth it? In the past, the United States has been criticized globally for its eagerness to engage in foreign conflicts, as well as avoiding some major conflicts that only America's military could improve. There are numerous arguments both for and against war, but the final decision comes down to one factor: a country's national interest: what is most advantageous for the United State's security, economy, and ideology.

When considering entering a major conflict, the first thing that must be considered is the national security of the country intervening in another nation. How safe are the people of the United States? War should be considered when citizens of a country are threatened by the acts of another nation. For example, if Iraq does possess weapons of mass destruction that could be used against innocent Americans, war is necessary to protect the harmless. Conflicts that arise closer to home need require more attention than those thousands of miles away. The United States acted quickly in Haiti in 1994 mainly due to the fact that the small island country is just offshore of southern U.S.; therefore posing more of a threat than the same actions taking place in Brazil (for instance). The support of the American people is essential as well. If the people do...