Stardate 20021116.2315

(On Screen): Some people's political positions are so bizarre that I find myself wondering if they're even totally sane. Thousands of demonstrators protested today in Toronto against a possible war in Iraq:

Carrying anti-war banners and signs with slogans such as "Don't Attack Iraq" and "Love Heals" demonstrators gathered in front of the Ontario legislature as part of a series of nationwide anti-war protests this weekend.

"The war against Iraq will have a horrific impact against innocent civilians," Marilyn Churley, a member of the provincial parliament told the crowd of about 2,500 people.

Love Heals. All we have to do is reach out our hand to Saddam, try to understand him, care about him and love him, and he'll respond in kind, drop all that silliness about trying to make a nuke, and just become such a wonderful guy you'd never believe. I mean, he's not really bad down deep, is he? Deep down inside we're all the same and we all want to be good people if only we're given the chance. The only reason he's a murderous and brutal dictator is because we're forcing him to be with those nasty sanctions and stuff. If we just try to work with him, you know, try to feel his anger then that knot of anger in him which is making him do all that terrible stuff will melt away.

The war against Iraq will have a horrific impact against innocent civilians. And the status quo doesn't? Irrespective of any other aspect of this situation, there's one real fact these folks seem to be ignoring: Iraq is a brutal police state where the people are always afraid, and this war is the only chance they'll get this generation to be freed from that. It is unfortunately true that some Iraqi civilians will end up dying in the combat, though our battle plan will try to minimize that. But for the vast majority who are sure to survive the result will be to lift from them fear and the possibility at any time of lengthy imprisonment with torture, or summary execution without trial. There are few nations on earth whose government is more brutal to its own people, and advocating against war means advocating the continuation of the government which oppresses them.

These loving peace demonstrators are attempting to condemn the people of Iraq to continue to live under a regime where people are so afraid that they don't even speak their minds in public, for fear that spies and informants may be near. Which is why you find reports of such radically different attitudes about Saddam depending on where in Iraq the report comes from. In the north and south, where Saddam's hold is weak, the people will say that they despise him. In the center, where his police and informants reign supreme, everyone thinks he's the finest man they know of. Doesn't that suggest just the faintest possibility that deep down they all hate him too, but are afraid to say so?

But out of love for the Iraqi people, the peace demonstrators want that regime to continue to brutalize the Iraqi people, and for those in the north and south who currently are not within Saddam's power to become subject to it. (And love will prevail, because after Saddam's secret police and informants regain control over the Kurds and Shiites, they too will start proclaiming in public how much they love and admire Saddam.)

If that's love, I'd prefer to have these peace demonstrators hate me.