Des Moines Register
03/19/06
Iraq: 3 years later
The Des Moines Sunday Register asked a variety of Iowans to share their views
of the Iraq war, which began three years ago today.
'In some ways history repeats itself'
The Iraq war's third anniversary will mean a day of protest for Carlie Tartakov,
professor emeritus in the College of Human Services at Iowa State
University and chairwoman of the peace activist group Alliance for Global
Justice.
Tartakov, 67, along with her husband, Gary, an art professor at ISU, have
spoken out against the war, practically since its inception. The couple will lead a
rally at 2:30 p.m. today (Sunday) at the Iowa State Center in Ames.
Tartakov says that she doesn't see an end to the war anytime soon.
"When people get into war, it generally lasts a lot longer than the general public
things it will. The idea that foreign conquerors like us can give democracy to
people whose language they don't even speak, and whose traditions they don't
even know is not sensible," she said. "It hasn't been sensible. Democracy is
something we say we're doing in part because we want to take democracy to that
nation. But democracy is something a nation develops in and of itself with great
effort.
"I think we, as as a powerful nation in the world, need restraint and good
judgment. Unfortunately, most people around the world fear our power than
respect our judgment."
Despite her feelings, Tartakov isn't shocked.
"In some ways history repeats itself. During wars and other crisis situations, the
government tends to take away more and more rights of its citizens by using the
excuse of war."
— Abby Simons