An argument in support of the Iraq War.

[QuestioningStudent]

I venture the argument that any country that is tyrannical, despotic, and actively works against the interests of its citizens, especially if it is not of a republican (y'know, combination of representative democracy and a constitution, not the Republican party) form of government, is not a legitimate soveriegn government. I would further argue that the application of military force by a government which _is_ legitimate against one that is _not_, for the purpose of liberating the oppressed people of the illegitimate government, is a just application of force. Furthermore, simply because a government possesses support among certain--or even many-- segments of its populace does not confer legitimacy upon that government; see Nazi Germany and the USSR for examples of what I mean. Each government was supported by various groups within the state, yet neither one was a morally/philisophically legitimate government. Were each of those governments recognized by other nations? Yes. Were each possessed of the capacity to wield such military force that they were a power unto themselves, and could by termed 'soveriegn,' inasmuch as they were mighty? Yes. Would a military action against them (motivated either by self-defense concerns or to liberate the oppressed people) have been illegitimate? No; I contend that such action would have been (and/or was) quite justified. Likewise I contend that an American invasion of another country, provided it does not permanently reduce that country into a colony of America, was justified. Caveat to the last point: I do not accept that merely strongly encouraging a republican form of government equates _automatically_ to the creation of an American colony. Likewise, I do not say that a temporary occupying government will be free of all evils, but that the necessity for such a government forces one to accept some unfortunately neccesary evils.

SO, what do y'all think? Logical flaws there?