United Nations needs to take charge
COMMENTARY
Jose Luis Hernandez

Over the last few weeks, the people of America and the rest of the world have witnessed and lived through the first war of the 21st century — a war currently aimed at defeating the brutal Iraqi regime and liberating its people from political oppression. The recent images and sounds of warfare speak louder than words — thundering cannon sounds and astonishing pyrotechnic sights.

Television networks, supported by state-of-the-art communications technology, have broadcast the most dramatic and powerful images of war in the history of our generation. War is a terrible thing, but when diplomacy fails, war becomes a necessary evil. Unfortunately, sometimes sacrifices must be made in order to achieve peace. This event will remain in history and in our memories forever.

I commend the courageous men and women of the American and coalition armed forces as they fight for freedom and democracy, peace and the liberation of the people of Iraq. They are an example to all of us who treasure the universal principles of equality, liberty and justice for all.

Let us not claim an early victory just yet. As American and coalition forces finish the war in Iraq, it is imperative that forces begin to invest their efforts in focusing on the anticipated central mission and motivation of this military operation: the location of weapons of mass destruction.

A true victory will come only when American and coalition forces secure existing weapons of mass destruction, bring Saddam Hussein into custody and carry out a plan for constructing a well-defined future for the people of Iraq — a future of social progress, political stability and economic freedom.

Achieving these objectives will not only help justify this war before, but prove that this war is indeed just, fair and necessary.

The most difficult part of the mission is yet to come. We must be patient. Rebuilding a country that has been oppressed by an authoritarian regime for decades will take a considerable amount of time, effort and sacrifice from our military men and women, government officials and leaders of the international community.

According to U.S. Department of State officials, the job of reorganizing a country of 23 million people will be too expensive and complex for a single country to handle on its own. For this reason it is imperative that the United Nations begin to take a major role in the reconstruction and liberation process of the people of Iraq.

Allowing the United Nations to enter the scene will serve to restore the organization’s validity and credibility and help mediate diplomatic relations between members of the international community and a post-war Iraq. As we move closer to the resolution of this conflict, it is essential that the United Nations take charge in the planning of a democratic Iraq. It is now the United Nations’ responsibility to act.

Jose Luis Hernandez is a freshman music major from Reynosa, Mexico.