The Hindu : Troops for Iraq

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 28, 2003

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Troops for Iraq

Sir, — I am in full agreement with your Editorial `Avoid the peacekeeping trap' ( July 23 ). India should guard against the machinations of the U.S., which circumvented the role of the United Nations.

The Americans, partnered by the U.K. in their misadventure, ignored the U.N. deliberately when the world body did not show any signs of supporting their illegal action. Why did the U.S. ignore the U.N. when it decided to attack Iraq? Now it is trying to involve the U.N. by seeking a resolution authorising the international community to lend its armed forces for peacekeeping purposes.

N. Satyanarayana,
Hyderabad

* * *

Sir, — The U.N. seems to be looking for a "cover" to retrieve its lost initiative in resolving the Iraqi crisis. This would amount to legitimising the Anglo-American invasion of Iraq and its "right" to execute anyone belonging to the former Iraqi regime. Under which law is the U.S.-U.K. combine operating? The overwhelming and unambiguous answer to the U.S. demand on India and other countries to send troops to stabilise Iraq, even if it has a semblance of U.N. approval, should be a firm "no".

Jacob George Kanjirappallil,
Changanacherry, Kerala

* * *

Sir, — The post-war situation in Iraq is a rather ugly manifestation of the imperialist streak in the U.S. Government. Witness the deplorable state of the Iraqis. The fact that the Americans are plundering the resources of the country cannot be refuted. Under the facade of "stabilising Iraq", its very sovereignty is denied. India should not burn its fingers by indulging in such sensitive issues as sending troops, without a proper enunciation from the U.N.

Susan K. Joseph,
Chennai

* * *

Sir, — So far, the U.S. and the U.K. forces have not found a single weapon of mass destruction in Iraq and they are in trouble on the domestic front, unable to answer their people. The war is proving costly for them in many ways. Since the American and the British soldiers are facing insurgency in Iraq and getting killed in guerrilla type warfare, the chances of self-rule for Iraq as a sovereign state are dim at the moment.

Your suggestion not to send troops even under the U.N. auspices is right. But we have to say `no' to America diplomatically without displeasing it. We have to be careful not to spoil our strategic relationship, built over a decade following the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

E. Sivasankaran,
Coimbatore, T.N.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Opinion

News Update

Stories in this Section

Personal laws and common sense

The News according to Star

History with a twist

Divided by the Indian Ocean

Mushrooming varsities