Writings from Rabbi Glickman

Why are you silent when the wicked devours a person more righteous than he?
Habakkuk 1:13

Here is what I wish: I wish that Saddam Hussein was a decent, reasonable human being. I wish that he would cooperate with the UN, and humbly agree to disarm Iraq completely. I wish that Saddam would turn into a nice guy, that he would stop torturing his people, and stop having his goons tear out dissenters’ tongues in public. I wish that he would cease his anti-America, anti-Israel rhetoric, and promise never to kill us. I wish that he would live in just one extravagant palace – or maybe two – sell the others, and use the proceeds to feed and educate his people.

What’s that you say? I can’t have those things? OK, then all I wish is that he would sit down and talk with us. If he won’t be our friend, then I wish he’d simply promise not to harm us. I wish that he would take a logical look what’s going on around him, and see the great heights his nation could reach if only he treated his citizens humanely, and stopped oppressing them. Then, he could befriend the other nations of the world and bring vast wealth into his country once again. Then, he could lead a nation that would be true exemplar of the richness and majesty of Arab culture. Then, he could feel comfortable sleeping in the same place two nights in a row.

But wait. I can’t have those things, either? Well, then all I wish is for the diplomatic means to get him and his regime out of power – to get them out of power quickly, and in a way that causes the Iraqi people as little suffering as possible. Of course, doing so will demand the complete and enthusiastic cooperation of every nation of the world, so I wish for that, as well.

But you say that the diplomatic efforts have failed? That many nations refuse to cooperate? In that case, my only response is to hope that our national leaders continue their diplomacy, anyway. In the meantime, in the absence of peaceful means to protect Iraq and the world against this tyrant, I am left with no choice but to hope that we as a nation have the fortitude and courage to take military action.

Sadly, this is a time of wishes unfulfilled and hopes unrealized. Sadly, we must remember that there are powerful people in the world who want to destroy us and all that we stand for. Sadly, Saddam Hussein and his regime have left us but one option – a military campaign to help ensure a safe tomorrow for all humanity.

Jewish law says, “If somebody is trying to kill you, you kill him first.” This should be obvious to us Americans – we have the right to defend ourselves. Unconditionally. And I cannot fathom why that principle seems to be in such dispute these days. If a bully is trying to kill us, we need to fight back. Sure, it would be nice if the French and others would support our fight against him; it would be nice if we could guarantee that, when this bully goes down, an even worse bully won’t take his place; it would be nice to know that fighting him won’t anger his buddies. All of those things would be nice, but if we know that we must fight to defend ourselves, then those other factors are ultimately irrelevant.

As a Jew, I am called to lead a sacred life. Being sacred doesn’t mean climbing to a desolate mountaintop or retreating into a monastic cell, but rather engaging with the world, making the here and now more Godly in every way we can. Although I can never be completely certain whether we are doing it right, all that I have learned about God and God’s wishes lead me to one terrifying conclusion: The free world must do all it can to remove Saddam Hussein and his despotic regime from power as quickly as possible. To do otherwise would be to passively tolerate evil in a most ungodly manner.

So this is what I pray: I pray for the safety of our soldiers, and for the safety of the Iraqi people. I pray that Saddam Hussein is overthrown, so that the world will no longer need to fear his evil deeds. I pray for a safer, kinder, more humane world – a world whose leaders are good, kind, and sane. Most of all, I pray that this conflict will end soon, and that the soldiers on both sides can return home safely, ours with the knowledge that they have bravely helped the world take a crucial step toward making it a better place for all humanity.

[back to top]