The Iraq dilemma: America's obligation

Christian Century, Nov 1, 2003 by Martin L. Cook

Nations should move toward acting in concert in the name of collective security. This is precisely the founding vision of the UN: that the Security Council would exercise its Chapter VII authority under the UN Charter promptly and consistently to eliminate threats to international peace and security. Such collective action would allow the great powers to "eliminate the scourge of war." U.S. and international interests converge in pointing toward the establishment of an international order in which that vision can be realized with greater consistency.

The war against terrorism is truly a global war in which all members of the international community have a stake, just as the struggle to realize the human rights agenda globally is an international struggle. We should not let the unilateralist tone of the Iraq intervention blind us to the fundamental truth of these internationalist goals.

Martin L. Cook is professor of philosophy at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Spring. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the U.S. Air Force, the Department of Defense or the U.S. government.