Students must understand the issues behind the impending war on Iraq and the United States' history of foreign policy. Otherwise, true meanings of the situation will be lost, said Betsey Stone, an author and political activist.
Stone was brought to campus by the Ball State Young Socialists Thursday night. Her speech, titled "The U.S. War on Iraq," highlighted major U.S. conflicts of the past fifty years and their relevance to today.
Stone has experience demonstrating against the U.S. attacks on Cuba in the 1960s and in the anti-war movement during the war in Vietnam.
The United States has always tried to exert control over sovereign nations, Stone said.
The Cuban revolution of the early 1950s is the closest comparison to the United States' situation with Iraq, Stone said.
Stone said when Cuba overthrew its leaders, the United States was instrumental in helping it install another leader, Fidel Castro.
"The U.S. has a history of replacing one dictator with another," Stone said. "Is the U.S. going to replace Saddam with a leader that represents the Iraqi people? Even the countries of humble governments are sovereign people."
The incidents of the 1991 Gulf War also influenced recent conflicts, Stone said.
"That war against Iraq was not really a war," she said. "It was more of a massacre."
Iraqi soldiers often fought with little to no weapons or other defenses and tried to surrender, but American soldiers overpowered them anyway, Stone said.
Stone said one reason for starting conflict is to protect trade deals and goods. The United States and other world powers have an economic interest in Iraq, she said.
"Part of what is involved in Iraq is it is the second-biggest oil-producing country in the world, and there is lots of competition among the major powers for this source," Stone said.
Aside from the protection of goods, Stone said the bigger issue at hand is the spreading of "imperial power."
Stone said although more countries are fighting for independence, the United States still tries to influence. Almost $7 billion worth of military hardware has been sent to smaller countries around Iraq, Stone said.
"Bush talks about the coalition of the willing, (to fight) but it should be called the coalition of the bribed," she said.
For these reasons, working-class people in America should resist war in Iraq because blue-collar laborers will get hit with raised taxes and other economic sacrifices, Stone said.
"When we go to war, working people are expected to help," she said. "We are under attack."
For sophomore Phil Davis, a member of the Ball State Young Socialists, Stone's presentation sent a message he hopes students will listen to.
"The war is being run by multi-millionaires," Davis said. "The only ones who will benefit are the super-rich."
Stone said this qualifies as a reason why protesting a war with Iraq is necessary. Knowing how to protest is even more important, she said.
"Everybody should hear all aspects (of the issue) and try to hear different views," said senior Amy Joseph, a coordinator for the Young Socialists.
Knowing specifics is key, Stone said.
"You can't be just generally against the war," she said. "You have to talk about concretes."
For example, do not attack only President Bush, she said.
"If you just (complain about) Bush, it hides the whole history and reality of what's really going on," Stone said.
But once understanding is gained, action must be taken.
"Any little fight-back (against the war) that takes place today can lay the basis for bigger ones that will happen in the future," she said.
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