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Rarely do we hear that Iraq has never committed any aggression against the United States. No one in the media questions our aggression against Iraq for the past 12 years by continuous bombing and imposed sanctions responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of children. [...] Only tyrants can take a nation to war without the consent of the people. The planned war against Iraq without a Declaration of War is illegal. It is unwise because of many unforeseen consequences that are likely to result. It is immoral and unjust, because it has nothing to do with US security and because Iraq has not initiated aggression against us. We must understand that the American people become less secure when we risk a major conflict driven by commercial interests and not constitutionally authorized by Congress. Victory under these circumstances is always elusive, and unintended consequences are inevitable

Ron Paul#27

WarLawIraqJustification

About this quote

What does it mean?
Iraq never attacked the U.S.; aggression against Iraq is illegal, driven by commercial interests, and harms American security.
In plain terms
U.S. war on Iraq lacks legal and moral justification.
What can you take from it?
War should be authorized by Congress and based on genuine security threats.

Where it applies

  • congressional debates
  • media coverage of war

Putting it to work

  • require congressional war declaration
  • audit war motives

Questions to consider

  • What role should Congress play in authorizing war?
  • How can commercial motives be checked?

Another view

Some argue strategic interests also protect security.

More from Ron Paul

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  2. Finally, there is a compelling moral argument against war in Iraq. Military force is justified only in self-defense; naked aggression is the province of dictat…

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  3. Demanding domestic security in times of war invites carelessness in preserving civil liberties and the right of privacy. Frequently the people are only too anx…

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