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Europe and appeasement

It is 12 January 2003 and US president Bush has rallied his troops for what he calls “The first war of the 21st century”. What is your view of this crisis, where, briefly, do you stand? This is the question we are putting to people around the world, especially those with their own public reputatio

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Saddam Hussein may be the most dangerous person on earth. I believe that President Bush understands that only too well, and realises that powerful steps must be taken to stop the Iraqi dictator. I cannot believe that those of America’s allies who do not share his views on this issue, are blind to the truth. They, quite simply, lack the political will to take the necessary measures to eliminate the threat that Saddam Hussein poses. Europe is certainly no newcomer to the policy of appeasement. The general tone of the policies of many of her component nations regarding the Middle East suggests that she has not only lost her will to confront the Iraqi dictator, but also her moral compass with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

©Aaron Breitbart 2003. Written in a personal capacity: the Wiesenthal Center has issued no policy.

Originally published as part of a debate on 12 January 2003 Writers, artists and civic leaders on the War: Pt. 1.

 

See also Writers, artists and civic leaders on the War: Pt. II

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