Date:20/06/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/06/20/stories/2003062000181000.htm

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Troops to Iraq

Sir, — An essential concomitant of a peacekeeping force is transparency of purpose and clearly outlined objectives — all within a relative timeframe — with a tangible end. As Chinmaya R. Gharekhan has said in his "Troops to Iraq" ( June 18 ), the Indian Government should give precedence to consensus. It should be remembered that it was the stationing of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia after the Gulf War in 1991 that engendered such animus towards it and rendered legitimacy to the Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden's grouse against the Americans. Any peacekeeping force overstaying its tenure in a volatile situation can find itself getting embroiled in a quagmire, something a country such as India can ill-afford.

Anjum Mirza,
Hyderabad,

Sir, — After failing to capture Osama, the U.S. wanted to save face by diverting public attention. Unlike in the Vietnam or Korean Wars, America was safe in a war this time, as many countries such as Russia had shed their armour. Also, America's weapons managers have a say in the Government and it is in the interest of the U.S. to explode their munitions periodically and update them. They need a war occasionally. Above all, the present administration wanted to prepare the ground for the ensuing presidential elections. But where is the WMD? Where is Saddam? The U.S. has no answer.

Sebastian Joseph,
Palghat, Kerala

Sir, — For invading Iraq to capture its oil resources, the U.S. President, George W. Bush, lied that Saddam Hussein was in possession of weapons of mass destruction. Unmindful of world opinion, including India's, he committed blatant aggression on that country. But he could not capture the hearts of the Iraqis. To face their onslaught, he wants the help of other nations. India should never even for any quid pro quo, like U.S. help to fight cross-border terrorism, send its forces to Iraq.

S. Kuppuswamy,
Bangalore

Sir, — There is no legitimate government in Iraq now. Unless such a government approved by the U.N. is in place, India should not respond to the "request" of the occupying forces to send troops to Iraq. The Organisation of Islamic Conference, which misses no opportunity to castigate India at every one of its meetings, did not even whimper when Iraq was run over by the U.S.-led forces. So, India should categorically refuse to send troops to Iraq unless requested by the U.N. or by a legitimate government of Iraq.

A. Sreenivasan,
Chennai