The peace movement is, in essence, a pro-war movement with a goal to disarm free, civilized nations and to leave them helpless, said a syndicated columnist last night.

Robert Tracinski, in a speech sponsored by the Objectivist Club, said rational self-interest is moral and is the solution to terrorism.

He criticized the pacifist peace plan.

"They [pacifists] say that we can resolve all conflicts without war if everyone in the world agrees not to settle things with war," Tracinski said. Of course that is the case, he added, but it is simply wishful thinking that every country would agree.

The peace movement has a double standard, Tracinski said. It denounces the use of force to limit conflict, but it is only vocal when the United States and its allies use force, he said.

"Pacifists say that those who initiate war and those who defend themselves are equally guilty," he said.

Tracinski noted the celebratory Iraqis dancing in streets yesterday and asked why, if the current war was so terrible, were they cheering and hugging American soldiers. He said civilians recognize that the regimes that initiate conflict are a greater threat to innocent civilians than those forces that try to end the conflict.

He said Saddam Hussein killed in conservative estimates over 200,000 of his nation's people during his time in power. The Light of Hope vigil at the Allen Street gates keeps a tally of civilian deaths and the sign tonight read 900 thus far in the war, he said.

"Judge for yourself which is a greater threat to civilians," Tracinski said.

Terrorism, he said, can only work against a victim who will not fight back, and pacifists say war must be avoided even in self-defense.

Tracinski said Saddam wants to kill as many of his own civilians as possible with the expectation that by causing many deaths, the United States and its allies will withdraw. These vicious tactics are used, he said, to gain the sympathy of the peace movement.

"The fundamental belief [of the peace movement] is that we are the haves and they are the have-nots. We must be the oppressors no matter what the facts are," Tracinski said.

He added modern terrorism grew partly out of military weakness and that the peace movement spawned terrorism.

"Force leaves no room for discussion, debate or dissent," he said. Opposing the initiation of force can only be done by use of force in self-defense, he added.

Tracinski said the only country that is open to the pacifist message is a free country. He asked why protestors oppose a war focused on keeping nuclear weapons from dictators.

He noted in the question-and-answer session following his speech that not all war protestors were pacifists, but said the peace movement is guided by the philosophy of pacifists.

The Objectivist Club, which sponsored Tracinski's speech, studies and promotes the philosophy of Ayn Rand, said club president Desiree Dudley.

Some students in the audience said they attended because it sounded like an interesting topic.

"There is so much anti-war talk around here and I'm not entirely convinced of it. I just wanted an alternative perspective," said Richard Huxham (junior-meteorology).