The war in Iraq is unethical. Believe me, I'm speaking from experience. I come from a country once called Yugoslavia. This country didn't fight other nations, but it had a war between its borders, and in the end, people who lived together for hundreds of years got into a war and became bitter enemies.
Many people faced death, many got injured for life, and many lost their loved ones. Some of them lost their homes and the basic necessities needed just to live a normal life, and even now, many citizens are still recovering.
The biggest thing about that war is that it didn't end in day or two; it didn't end in a week or two. It ended after four years. It also didn't have minimum casualties. In the last census in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1991 - the newly named areas that were once known as Yugoslavia - what was once a population of 4.4 million people before the civil war, decreased to 3.4 million people.
So what I'm saying is that wars usually last a lot longer than expected, and more people die than expected. Already, in less than a month of fighting, there have been hundreds of casualties, numerous injuries, journalists killed and missing in action and Americans held as prisoners of war in who knows what horrible conditions.
This war is unethical. The meaning of unethical is something done against human morals and values, or unaccepted principles that govern the conduct of a group. It's unethical to crush a smaller and weaker country preemptively.
This war with Iraq is one war that could lead us to World War III, because I believe that going against Iraq is not just fighting them, but all nations in that region as one.
Additionally, it's unjust that the average citizen doesn't get to choose whether we get to go to war or not; they just have to accept the decisions made by those in power.
In our war against Iraq, President George W. Bush keeps telling us how this war is not going to last long. I know from my own experience that war lasts much longer than expected, and that by telling us that this war is going to be finished fast, President Bush only wants to gain our support.
Well, as I recall, he was telling us the same thing when he decided to attack Afghanistan, and the objective of that conflict - finding and bringing Osama Bin Laden to justice - remains unresolved.
In fact, the most unethical factor of any war, including this war with Iraq, is that innocent people are going to be the biggest victims. In the end, I would ask America, is this war really so important, and worthy of losing the lives of our loved ones, not to mention innocent victims in Iraq?
American soldiers are putting their lives on the line each and every minute of this war. So, are we really ready to lose husbands, wives, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, nephews and nieces? If people answer "yes," I wouldn't blame them, as they are just trying to feel proud of their loved ones.
The biggest factor is the American media that says this war isn't going to be long, and casualties will be minimal. It seems to me, as someone who comes from another country, that the American media confuse people about what is going on. And, in turn, people believe they are doing the right thing by supporting the war.
Common citizens of Iraq are going to pay the biggest price. Their lives are going to be destroyed, their loved ones will die and their economy will be crushed.
I know this because I do come from a country where war occurred. In addition to all the pain and suffering caused by human casualties, the economy in former Bosnia and Herzegovina was demolished all the way.
By the time war broke out in 1992, Bosnia had an inflation rate over 120 percent. Afterward, it rose to over 1,000 percent. Also, the unemployment rose from 35 percent to 75 percent.
Almost half of all industrial plants, including about 75 percent of the republic's own refineries, were destroyed. When we look at these statistics, do we believe that Iraq won't experience the same problems?
President Bush vows to stay and help Iraq, but have we ever heard exactly how?
In Afghanistan now, there are reports that jobs have not increased and industries have not developed, and some say that the Taliban is already reorganizing. With these consequences in mind, we will really be destroying Iraq.
In the end, if we are not ready to lose our own loved ones or sacrifice in any way, isn't it unethical to risk the lives of a whole nation?
Igor Vojvodic is a pre-business sophomore. Reach him at igor.vojvodic@asu.edu.
