Devon Dick THE PRONOUNCEMENTS about the justification for invading Iraq by US President Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Party Leader Edward Seaga's statements about 'tainted money' remind me of the story about the boy who cried 'Wolf, Wolf'.
The story is told about a boy who wanted to test the support he would get if he was ever in danger so he cried 'wolf, wolf' and all the town folks came to rescue him from the dangerous man-eating wolf. So having hurried to the alleged scene of imminent danger the people recognised that the boy was playing a prank. However, another time the same boy cried 'wolf, wolf'. This time the people thought he was playing another prank so they did not heed his cry. Unfortunately, this time there was indeed a wolf and the wolf devoured him.
Bush and Blair have played a dangerous game in the war against terrorism. Terrorism is a serious threat to the safety of the world. As someone remarked about terrorists, 'they do not want to be at the table only to blow up the table'. So this present and imminent danger must be tackled. Instead, Bush and Blair tried to convince the world that Iraq was synonymous to terrorism and was this terrible 'wolf'. Obviously, Wolfowitz, the Deputy Defence Secretary, and the other hawks advised him incorrectly.
HONOURABLE DECEPTION?
The world was led to believe that Iraq was connected to 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center only to hear the US President disclaiming that assertion. The world was told via a powerpoint presentation that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction only for the US inspectors to find no weapons. The world was told that Iraq posed an imminent danger and that they could strike Britain within 45 minutes only to ascertain that this was not true. Two of Blair's former Cabinet personnel have accused him of honourable deception. Bush meant to deceive by ignoring CIA's assessment and used British intelligence that stated that Iraq was buying uranium from Niger. There is now a best-selling book dealing with the lies of George Bush. When the book was discussed, an apologist for Bush said that Clinton lied too!
The plot thickens with recent revelations by US Private Jessica Lynch who disputes the Penta-gon's account of her rescue. And the White House will not reveal what they knew before the 9/11 attack.
When leaders lose credibility then they lose moral authority to lead. It means that there will come a time when they are speaking the truth and one will think it is a lie. Many persons take these world leaders with a grain of salt. Mandela was labelled a guerrilla.
A REAL TRAGEDY
Hopefully, the CARICOM leaders will have the courage to tell the British Prime Minister that the invasion of Iraq without the expressed sanction of the U.N. was a dangerous precedent. Tell Blair to find a reverse gear, admit the errors and fight terrorism not Iraqis. There is hope that the CARICOM leaders will do that based on Prime Minister P.J. Patterson declining Bush's breakfast when Bush only invited the CARICOM leaders who supported the war plus the chairman of CARICOM.
There is a moral force at work which no military might can destroy. At first Bush claimed that the U.N. was irrelevant but now he has sought their help and is following their deadlines. U.S. owes money to the U.N. but ironically they have spent US$300 million for the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq which was originally U.N.'s responsibility.
The world, however, will be less safe because the next time genuine world leaders cry 'wolf' and it is real, we will not believe them. This will be a real tragedy.
Not to be outdone, the most Honourable Edward Seaga cried 'wolf'. He said that one of his deputy leaders used tainted money in order to obtain that office. This is after claiming that he was buying votes. The claim of tainted money has been alleged in previous elections but while there has been intelligence, there was no evidence. The Leader of the Opposition was the first person to claim that he had evidence. But was the cry of 'wolf' a bluff. He states that he is now satisfied that the money was clean although he has not seen the complete list. How then can he wash his hands from his allegation? Perhaps the names he has not seen are the tainted ones. And if he was really crying 'wolf' when will we know when he is speaking the truth. Were the other statements about the PNP just cries of 'wolf'?
Bush, Blair and Seaga need to remember that crying 'wolf' when there is no wolf can be dangerous to their own 'health'.
The Rev. Devon Dick is
pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church.
