He reminded the audience that "the Iraqis are not amassing on our border," and added self-defense is not proven and pre-emptive aggression could put the "credibility of our military at state."
As an alternative to war, he said, the Iraqi regime could be controlled by weapons inspections, international pressure or even a domestic revolt.
They said a military invasion could produce greater harm by sparking a war in the Middle East or between India and Pakistan, which might copy the pre-emptive doctrine.
As an alternative to war, he said, the Iraqi regime could be controlled by weapons inspections, international pressure or even a domestic revolt.
They said a military invasion could produce greater harm by sparking a war in the Middle East or between India and Pakistan, which might copy the pre-emptive doctrine.
An attack on Iraq may "produce the devastating consequences of an Arab-Israeli war or an Indian attack on Pakistan, making Saddam’s tenure a lesser evil," said Rev. Casey.
"Since it is very doubtful that UN authorization for the removal of Saddam Hussein can be obtained," said Rev. John Langan, a professor of Catholic Social Thought, Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University, and "in the absence of such authorization, efforts to remove him come much closer to a form of vigilante justice in which considerations of necessity and urgency outweigh the requirements of proper procedure and national sovereignty.
"Since it is very doubtful that UN authorization for the removal of Saddam Hussein can be obtained," said Rev. John Langan, a professor of Catholic Social Thought, Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University, and "in the absence of such authorization, efforts to remove him come much closer to a form of vigilante justice in which considerations of necessity and urgency outweigh the requirements of proper procedure and national sovereignty.
"Vigilante justice may do the right thing in some cases, but it does not have the stable support which normally results from reliance on orderly procedure and processes."
Adding he was not "totally opposed" to the principle of a pre-emptive war, he said it must be defensive in intent. "The threat must be imminent and grave — which is a level the Iraq problem has not yet reached."
Barbara Ferguson, Arab News Correspondent
Courtesy of Arab News;
http://www.arabnews.com
A photo of "the enemy", courtesy of Iraqi News Agency
http://www.uruklink.net/iraqnews/eindex.htm
Adding he was not "totally opposed" to the principle of a pre-emptive war, he said it must be defensive in intent. "The threat must be imminent and grave — which is a level the Iraq problem has not yet reached."
Barbara Ferguson, Arab News Correspondent
Courtesy of Arab News;
http://www.arabnews.com
A photo of "the enemy", courtesy of Iraqi News Agency
http://www.uruklink.net/iraqnews/eindex.htm