Student groups are divided on how to react to the increasing
possibility of an American war with Iraq. Some groups speak out in
full support of American military action, others criticize current
U.S. policy and voice their opposition to war, while the majority
remain undecided.
Many student groups are so divided on the war issue that they
have been unable to adopt an official stance.
Kristina Meshelski, chairwoman of the Bruin Democrats and Daily
Bruin contributor, said she was unable to comment on the position
of her group as the views of the membership were so diverse. She
did, however, say more members were against war than in favor of
it.
Bruins for Israel chair Jennifer Dekel, a fourth-year
communication studies student, remained similarly closed on her
group’s view. She said the members have not taken an official
position and only intend to do so if Iraq attacks Israel. In that
case, they would definitely support American action against Iraq,
and the deposition of Saddam Hussein.
However, some groups have adopted clear positions on the
controversial issue. They either criticize the current U.S. foreign
policy and condemn the possibility of war with Iraq, or applaud the
foreign policy and support the war.
Behzad Raghian, a member of the International Socialist
Organization and fifth-year political science student is vehemently
anti-war. He said he believes the United States wants regime change
not for humanitarian reasons, but so that it can install a puppet
government to do its bidding.
“The U.S. has a lot to gain ““ Iraq has the second
biggest oil reserve in the world,” he said. He also said the
United States wants to legitimize its unrivaled economic and
military position and is using the facade of humanitarian concern
to do so.
Raghian is convinced that the United States is a war monger.
“I guarantee you, within the next two months the U.S. will
find a way to invade Iraq,” he said.
By contrast, some student groups have spoken out in support of
the United States and its aim to remove Hussein.
Andrew Jones, chair of the Bruin Republicans, fourth-year
political science student and former Daily Bruin Viewpoint
columnist, unequivocally supports President Bush’s position.
He said he believes Hussein represents a serious threat to the
United States.
“Saddam would kill American peace activists just as
eagerly as he’d kill those who support the war,” he
said.
Jones also said that “(America’s) own
interests” are paramount in the debate about war.
“We need to be concerned with ourselves” he said.
The loss of Iraqi lives, he said, is “a sacrifice” that
needs to be made, as is the destabilizing effect that the war is
likely to have on the region.
Furthermore, Jones said he believes that this is “the most
just kind of war you can imagine” and one which shows
“we are willing to stand up for what is right.”
Some student groups, though concerned about the possible
negative effects of war, have nevertheless decided that the likely
humanitarian benefits will probably make it a necessity.
Sam Torkan, president of the Peace and Justice Coalition and a
third-year psychology student, does not support the concept of war
“on Iraq,” which he believes is a misnomer, but agrees
that it is imperative to remove Hussein from power and accepts that
it may be necessary to do this using military force.
He said Hussein is an oppressor who has systematically
annihilated over 500,000 Kurdish Iraqis. He said it is crucial to
create “a place where people can say whatever they want to
say and where human rights prevail ““ not a place where people
are killed for who they are and what they say.”
Torkan supports a “thought-out, calculated and careful
war” but hopes Hussein will comply with the United Nations,
and avoid further violence.
While some student groups have taken strong stances, both pro-
and anti-war, the majority continue to remain significantly
silent.