In case this is the first thing you have read since returning from the break, we are at war. But unlike the war on terrorism, where countries jumped at the chance to help us, this war has encountered some resistance.
Static from protesters is a given, as with any war. But now, global leaders have joined the resistance. France and Russia agreed to veto a U.N. resolution that would have given Iraq an ultimatum if they failed to present their illegal weapons.
Russian President Vladimir Putin believes this war is a "big political mistake" and French President Jacques Chirac worries this will lead to a "humanitarian catastrophe."
This sounds a lot like the popular anti-war slogan, "Stupid War, Mindless Violence," but the intentions of these countries is far from mindless. Behind the smoke and mirrors, they are not humanitarians, but two countries looking out for their interests.
Russia has more than a few economic reasons to leave Saddam's Iraq to its business. First, they maintain a number of sizable Iraqi bank accounts, and with the United States' Patriot Act freezing just under $2 billion of Iraqi money, Russia is behind the eight ball to surrender these funds.
Also, it might have something to do with the $8 billion that Saddam owes Russia for arms sales during the Iran-Iraq conflict. It is doubtful that Russia will see any of that money once Saddam is removed from power.
It is even more doubtful that Russia is now concerned with saving lives when only years before they were supporting war with an assortment of weapons. The difference, of course, is the direction of Iraqi dollars, once going to Russia, now coming from it.
And since nobody has failed to point out our oil interests, let's turn the tables. Russia holds existing oil contracts with Iraq that will dissipate as a result of this war. Russia no longer has the capital to form any new contracts, since it will take billions of dollars to maximize Iraq's oil exportation.
In fact, France has similar oil contracts, which might be a reason that they have been in such stern opposition to the war. This may not be the only reason behind France's opposition; France has other reasons to wave the white flag.
France sold military hardware to Iraq during the Iran-Iraq skirmish - $25 billion worth. Since the Gulf War, they have supplied Iraq with billions more in goods, not for peace, but in hopes of drilling one of the largest oil reserves on the globe. France wants oil, not peace. Pledging more support to Iraq under Saddam than any other western nation is a good way to get it.
Chirac has his popularity to think about as well, as 86 percent of the French agree with his decision. Unfortunately, these are the same people who will wag their fingers at him when they realize that the French vote no longer holds any power.
With the United States conveniently side-stepping the U.N., France's promised veto became a bold statement with no real authority. Now France can stand tall, walk proud, and soon find that it is completely isolated from the international equation.
America's and Britain's ulterior motives are well exposed, since neither has a current oil contract with Iraq, but it is time that people consider the clandestine motives of those countries opposing the war.
People have died in scores under Saddam's reign, just as people will die during this war, but it's ridiculous for France and Russia to sit on the sidelines and claim the moral high ground when watching the Iraqi people die satiates them - as long as the price is right.
Darren Todd is an English literature senior. Reach him at lawrence.todd@asu.edu.
