Teach-In Deliberates on Pros, Cons of War With Iraq

The Carolina Undergraduate Philosophy Club sponsored the panel discussion at Caldwell Hall from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The forum encouraged peaceful discussion among people with different sentiments toward the looming conflict in Iraq.

Recent teach-ins on campus have grown heated as activists on both sides argued over the merits of the potential war.

Douglas MacLean, a philosophy professor, opened the forum by saying, "The purpose of the forum is to help share our views, raise questions and answer them together.

"It's important for any country to achieve a kind of clarity of purpose. It's a moral principle as well as a strategic one."

Discussions ranged from the definition of mass destruction to the difference between preventive and preemptive attacks to the issue of genocide, as well as the morality of the situation.

"War is sometimes morally justifiable ... but they have to obey certain moral constraints," MacLean said.

Richard Kohn, professor of history and chairman of the curriculum of peace, war and defense, presented the argument against going to war with Iraq unilaterally.

Kohn said his thinking is based on national interest. "I have not seen evidence that we are in clear and imminent danger," he said.

"As isolated, as unreformed, as irrational as (Saddam Hussein) can be at times, I think he can be dealt with," Kohn said. "If he tried or threatened to use the weapons against us, he knows we would come after him.

"He does not strike me as a suicidal man."

Cori Dauber, professor of communication studies offered a case for the war in Iraq.

She addressed the concern that a war with Iraq would be a distraction from the war on terrorism.

"Why can't we do both?" she asked. "If anything, the war on Iraq will show American strength."

She also said the war is about probability assessments.

"The argument that the U.S. has 'no case made' strikes me as silly," Dauber said. "There are no definitive absolutes whether Saddam has weapon 'x.' ...This is a risk; there aren't going to be facts."

Amanda Elam, a graduate student of sociology from Canada, articulated the opinion of other countries on the issue of whether the United States would be justified in going to war.

"Everyone is talking about how egotistical the United States is in the global arena."

She also said the idea that the attack on the World Trade Center was just about the United States was close-minded.

People from other nations were killed in the attacks, and they felt concern for their nations' security as well.

Another issue raised was that the United States needs to comply with international law and work with the United Nations to gain support.

Kohn said that if the United States goes to war without consent or support from the United Nations there would be a "long-term realignment against the United States that is too powerful politically, financially and militarily."

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.