President Bush gave a brilliant speech the day after September 11, launching his latest project, a military strike on Iraq. Riding the coattails of grief, Bush has attempted to sway the United Nations, Kofi Annan and the American public toward a war. Using the rationale that Saddam Hussein has violated the United Nations stipulations, Bush is steadily beating the heavy drum of war.

This strategically timed speech simply continues Bush?s weak reasoning for war. CNN reported that several of the statements in the report released last Thursday “are unsubstantiated.” Republican Senator Chuck Hagel has stated that the CIA has “absolutely no evidence” that Iraq possesses or will soon possess nuclear weapons, and majority leader Tom Daschle also leaned toward caution. “I don?t think anyone?s committed to a course of action, legislatively or militarily, at this point,” Mr. Daschle said.

In an unusual move, Kofi Annan released his remarks, stating prior to Bush?s speech saying that any action against Iraq should be through the United Nations, by one nation alone, according to the New York Times. While President Bush stated “If Iraq?s regime defies us again the world must move deliberately, decisively, to hold Iraq to account.” This is a situation that the U.N. needs to take care of, not the United States alone.

Pakistan?s President Pervez Musharraf, told the Times that “We would not like to be involved” in a military action against Iraq. Pakistan has been instrumental in our attacks on Afghanistan, and by moving quickly into Iraq we jeopardize the glass stability that exists in that area. Musharraf is concerned that a pre-emptive strike could cause India to utilize their nuclear weapons upon them.

Musharraf?s other point is that any “operation needs to be taken to its logical end,” echoing the thoughts of Eli Pariser, organizer of the peace movement moveon.org. “Who?s going to pick up the pieces in Iraq?” Parsier questions. What happens when you topple a regime, well same as we have done in Afghanistan, you have to replace it with some sort of government. Otherwise, we will have a mob of angry Iraqis in a chaotic mess.

Besides, with the current insane sanctions places upon the Iraqi people, bombing a nation for the actions of a despot is inhuman. Seyed Waqar, a CSUS student, had lived in Pakistan for 22 years. He states that America shouldn?t attack Iraq due to it?s economy, that most of the Iraqi people are living in poverty. “Saddam Hussein is the real culprit.” Waqar said, “He is just one person?and he?s not acting like a Muslim.

Why is Bush promoting so rigorously the injustices of Saddam and pretending to be a righteous savior protecting the world? Perhaps it?s Bush?s smokescreen for his involvement in the Enron and general corporate debacle. A NY Times poll revealed that “Americans fear that Bush and Vice Pres Dick Cheney are hiding something about their own corporate pasts.” Funny how we haven?t heard much of our corporate collapse since Bush started his war marketing. I?d love to see a public, televised hearing (ala OJ Simpson) of Bush?s involvement with Harken Energy, the oil company that Bush used to be on the board for and whose stock he sold just before it reported a 23.2 million loss.

Bush is aggressively campaigning the Congress to vote for some sort of action.The war on terror is taking plenty of our time. However, with this consistent advertising, it will be difficult for congress members to speak their hesitation unless they hear strongly from their constituents. One administration official remarked, “In the end it will be difficult for someone to vote against it,” in response to the White House?s persuasive strategy.

I?m not falling for it. I need a bunch of evidence before I go to war. Congress must debate.