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Far removed from the banter of such television news bigwigs as Chris Matthews and Bill O’Reilly, Pepperdine added its own contribution to the Iraq debate; only it was done in the form of a calm discussion led by university President Dr. Andrew K. Benton.
Benton assured the Elkins Auditorium audience of about 75 students and faculty that they would not be watching a debate but a discussion, and the four professors who spoke as panelists remained true to his promise.
Associate professor of religion Dr. Ronald Highfield said he would only speak as a theologian. Everyone would be better served, he said, if instead of arguing the merits of war people joined hands in prayer.
“Trust in God,” he said. “Let God be the final judge in all disputes.”
Other panelists discussed the points of the war that have been spoken of so much over the past week.
Dr. Robert Lloyd, chair of the Center for International Studies and Languages, said he came from the perspective of a “reluctant hawk” in support of the war.
Lloyd led the audience through the history of modern terrorism, beginning with the 1993 attack on the World Trade Center through the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. This new component to international relations, he said, drastically changed policy.
Associate professor of political science Dr. Robert Williams took a contrary viewpoint to Lloyd, but never spoke directly against his fellow professor.
Williams said the current war would have been OK 100 years ago, before nations had to answer to international organizations such as the United Nations. Now, however, the United States had no right to act without support of the international body to which it belongs.
During the 90-minute discussion, Benton read questions provided from the audience, many of which focused on the legitimacy of the United States’ actions. Some students suggested that the United Nations proved its illegitimacy by failing to live up to its own resolutions and placing nations like Libya on the Human Rights Commission. Others pointed out that the United States destroyed its own legitimacy by not getting support of the international community before beginning war.
Williams said that President George W. Bush may have, in fact, enhanced the legitimacy of the United Nations by seeking its approval for the war so vigorously.
"We were engaged actively in (seeking U.N. approval) for a good six months," he said.
History professor Dr. Darlene Rivas also participated and voiced concern over what happens after the war, if the United States does take out Saddam Hussein’s regime.
“We will have an obligation to remain committed to Iraq for some time,” she said.
She continued that the United States' track record of supporting countries it invades has not been positive.
Highfield came back from sabbatical to speak at the forum, although he said he hesitated about doing so. He remained steadfast on his conviction not to delve into subjects that did not have to do with religion.
Submitted March 27, 2003
MALIBU, CA
