Insider opposition to Iraq war? (Insider Report).(Henry Kissinger, Brent Scowcroft)(Brief Article)

In early August, Henry Kissinger and Brent Scowcroft wrote op-ed columns seemingly opposed to the approaching U.S. attack on Iraq. Since both of these CFR stalwarts served as national security advisers to Republican presidents, some commentators insisted that their criticisms indicate a fissure in the GOP over the impending war. Others attuned to the influence of the Council on Foreign Relations and the partially submerged Power Elite--of which Kissinger and Scowcroft are prominent representatives--wondered if those objections signaled a change in Establishment objectives.

While there remains a possibility that America could avoid a Gulf War encore, it is important to recognize the substance of Kissinger and Scowcroft's criticisms. In his August 11th syndicated column, Kissinger emphasized that any U.S. attack on Iraq must serve the interests of "a new international system" presided over by the UN. Thus the case for military action is based on the supposed fact that Saddam is building nuclear weapons "in direct violation of United Nations resolutions.... The case is all the stronger because Saddam expelled UN inspectors...." The objective of a "regime change" in Iraq, continued Kissinger, "should be ...