story by Bridget Rubenking photos by Elliot Cramer

Political science professor Thom Yantek compares much of what he sees with the Iraq situation to public opinion and politics during the Vietnam conflict.

“Go back 30 years to Vietnam. American troops were being spit upon,” Yantek says. “We’ve had a lot of time to reflect. Now we want to support our troops.”

Yantek says it took several years for opposition to Vietnam to become mainstream. But now, opposition to the occupation in Iraq has grown more quickly. It is “interesting that already opinion is softening” in favor of the Iraqi point of view, he says.

“What is really troubling to a number of critics,” he says, “is that we might have been misled. At least the immediacy of the situation has been exaggerated this time.”

The political environment now has changed as Americans, and others, are doubting the true motives behind invading Iraq, he says.

Americans may be taking a closer look at the current situation because of Vietnam’s impact.
“This time there are more arguments,” Yantek says. “The U.S. unilaterally invaded a sovereign nation. It broke international law.”

Yantek says America has a “moral center” that allows us to look at the world as though we have a moral sanctity over other nations, which makes us feel justified in wielding power against other nations.

A primary issue of concern to the United Nations, and others, is pre-emptive war, Yantek says.
“Once we permit any kind of pre-emptive strike, we can imagine any number of countries attacking one another. It’s a prescription for worldwide disaster,” Yantek says. “Frankly, we’re the only ones who can pull it off, and critics say that’s the downside.”

america’s responsibility

Tony Cox, sophomore classical humanities major and College Republicans president, says America is seen as a superpower that has sought to get involved and help other countries.

“The whole world looks to us, as much as everyone hates it, to help fix the problem. It’s our duty as the world’s only superpower,” Cox says of American intervention in Iraq. “We can’t just sit by and let genocide happen.”

Cox says he thinks the Cold War left America economically and militarily superior to other nations. He says he believes responsibility comes with that.

Saddam Hussein’s regime was hostile and posed a threat, he says, and there are no reasons to think the president didn’t believe there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

“We have an opportunity to do a good thing in a place with a very bad history,” Cox says. “Anyone trying to hold us back is doing a disservice to us and Iraq.
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