The 'invisible hand' at work
published: Wednesday | March 26, 2003
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I FULLY agree with Professor Vasciannie that the American-led invasion of Iraq cannot be justified on the basis of International Law, although one could argue that his view cannot be justified as a legitimate exercise of the right of self defence, is debatable based on the controversial nature of the debate over the Iraqi situation in the Security Council at the United Nations over the past few months.
One thing is certain, the debate points to the very complex nature of international politics and diplomacy, a reality that points to the limitations of institutions, such as the United Nations, in determining the destiny of nations, whether that of Iraq or the United States. The truth of the matter is that there is an invisible hand at work in guiding the affairs of nations. That invisible hand is described in the Judeo-Christian faiths as God. Biblical history amply demonstrates that God deals with nations based on their adherence to His universal moral laws, whose foundations depend on the principles of justice in human society.
Historically, those nations that acted in total disregard for such principles eventually invoked the wrath of God upon them, through natural disasters and wars. Such was the case of Judah, which was invaded by the King of Babylon in 586 BC. The Prophet Jeremiah, who witnessed the horrors of this invasion, recorded in his book of prophecies that God made Judah desolate because the King of Judah failed to execute judgement and righteousness and to deliver the spoils out of the hand of the oppressor, did violence to the stranger, fatherless, widow and poor and shed innocent blood (Jeremiah 22: 1-3; 4-5).
Following the horrors of this invasion, which Jeremiah also reflected on in the book of Lamentations, the Jewish population that survived were taken as slaves to Babylon, where they lived under Babylonian subjugation for seventy years. In Jeremiah's view, the invasion was justified. As a matter of fact, he pleaded with the King of Judah to surrender and to voluntarily go into exile to spare the nation the impending unnecessary bloodshed.
When one considers the wickedness associated with the regime of Saddam Hussein, one cannot but conclude, in the light of Biblical history, that the American-led invasion to remove him from power is nothing but the judgement of God. There is truth in the saying that God rules in the affairs of men and nations. Maybe the American-led invasion is therefore God's doing, which, if that be the case, then we can only praise President George Bush for his courageous efforts in leading the coalition of the willing, even without the support of the UN, to topple this brutal regime. I therefore reserve judgement on the war. Let history be the judge.
