Faith does not always result in action

by Matthew

Back in 2002 and 2003, I was of the opinion that Britain and the United States should go to war against Iraq (Note to commenters- I do not want to get into the question of the rightness or the wrongness of the Iraq War in the comments, if you don't mind).

I believed that Saddam Hussein proabably had weapons of mass destruction and the West would be taking a big risk if they did not take out his military machine.

However, I did not join the army, the navy or the air force. I was very skinny and I have a minor disability, but I cannot say with certainty that I would have failed a medical test had I volunteered my service to Her Majesty's forces.

I had not the slightest thought of taking the king's shilling. A military life had no attraction for me. I was studying law and I did not want to break off my studies to go to war. I am sure if I had suggested joining up, my friends and family would have advised me against it.

I contributed absolutely nothing whatsoever to the allied efforts in the war against Iraq. The only thing I did as a result of my professed belief was to write one or two letters to the local paper in favour of war. I very much doubt that had I not written those letters to the Worcester News, Mr Blair and Mr Bush would have had second thoughts about going to war.

So, given that my belief had little effect on my behavour and did not result in my dedicating my life to service to my country, was it really sincere?

Yes, of course! I really did believe that war was necessary. I was convinced. I was persuaded. I trusted Blair and Bush in their conviction that war was necessary.Though rightly or wrongly, I had no intention of fighting for them.