Forbes says after inevitable war, U.S. should form Iraqi democracy

Steve Forbes '70, editor-in-chief of Forbes Magazine, said war with Iraq is not a matter of if but of when in his lecture, "What Happens After Iraq?," in McCosh 50 last night.

"In terms of Iraq itself, war will happen sooner rather than later because Saddam [Hussein] is not going to back down," Forbes said.

The lecture, sponsored by the Princeton Committee Against Terrorism, addressed the issues surrounding a possible war and the process of establishing a democratic government within Iraq once Saddam has been removed from power.

"As a member of the board of directors of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies [a foreign policy advocacy group], Forbes is specially qualified to address . . . the domestic political dialogue that contributes to our foreign policy goals and the methods used in their implementation," Sam Spector '03, one of the main organizers of the event, wrote in an email.

Forbes said that it would take a while for a civil political structure to fully establish itself in Iraq but that it is also crucial for the United States to stay involved after military aims have been accomplished.

"One of the huge mistakes the U.S. made in 1991 was simply to wash their hands of the situation," Forbes said. "We have learned that democratic institutions will not arise on their own but that we must instead help nurture the forces of liberalization."

Forbes also said fighting Iraq was an important step in the war on terrorism because it is necessary to "root out terrorism wherever it will be found in the world."

He said intervention in Iraq is a part of the struggle against terrorism, which will continue even after Saddam is removed from power, Forbes said.

Finally, Forbes emphasized the importance of technology in a war with Iraq, noting that it would be necessary for the United States to step up research into vaccinations against various biological weapons.

Such action would require the Food and Drug Administration to revise its process of assessing standards so that drugs could be developed and implemented within weeks instead of years.

Forbes' lecture is the latest of several debates and lectures given across campus dealing with the war with Iraq, and student leaders hope that this lecture will stimulate debate on campus.

"This [lecture] is a good opportunity to learn more about the current situation and how people are approaching it," Karen Wolfgang '05, president of Students for Progressive Education and Action, wrote in an email. "There is potential in [Forbes'] visit for renewing discussion on campus."

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However, others, such as Vincent Lloyd '03, also of SPEAC, feel that PCAT has focused too much on presenting Bush's policy rather than exploring alternatives to war.

"I find it striking that while the vast majority of students realize that the situation is extremely complex. . . [PCAT] has made it their mission to unquestioningly support Bush administration policy," Lloyd wrote in an email.