Stripes letter: "Thank you...for publishing...'War based on a lie'"

[lebkuchen]

Good to read captain’s take

A sincere thank you for publishing the Nov. 30 letter “War based on a lie.” http://stripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=32974&archive=true

I am impressed by this honest, firsthand assessment of the situation in Iraq and by the captain’s courage to speak truth to power.

While dissent is core to American values and freedoms, it is strongly discouraged and stifled in the military — but he is far from alone in his disillusionment for the reasons we are there.

His thought-provoking letter summarizes what so many of us are thinking. We now know that there were no weapons of mass destruction, there were no chemical or biological weapons, there was no uranium coming from Niger, there was no nuclear program in Iraq. Though evil, neither Saddam Hussein nor Iraq was involved in al-Qaida’s attacks on Sept. 11. It was all lies, fabrication, false, cherry-picked intelligence and fear-mongering to convince the American people that an illegal war of choice was our last resort when, in truth, it was this administration’s preferred first choice.

Since the role of the U.S. military is to protect America, not to do “nation-building,” this sure is a hell of a price to pay to control their oil and establish bases in the Middle East.

Allison O’Kelley
Suwanee, Ga.

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=33941

[Hissyspit]

1. Thanks for the follow-up, Christmas Cookie. They are indeed both

powerful letters. I hope that the sargeant who wrote that other letter is doing well over the last couple of days.

[Moochy]

2. Fred Phelps

Bravo to Patriot Guard

I (found) “Bikers shield military funerals from protests” (article, Knight Ridder Newspapers, Nov. 13, Okinawa print edition) deeply disturbing.

It was not the Patriot Guard that enraged me. It was the reason for which they came together that stirred the fire within. The reason was the Rev. Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church. The reverend and his followers are attending American soldiers’ funerals and protesting, picketing and demoralizing human beings who died doing what they were told to do.

The Patriot Guard has recognized there is a problem and taken matters into its members’ own hands. I commend them for their actions and support them.

I do not understand the actions of this reverend and his followers. Have they no decency? Have they no respect?

Does religion and life not teach us to be tolerant, to be understanding of another’s views? This is not tolerance or understanding. It is ugly and disgraceful bigotry. What kind of man, who practices in the word of God, holds up a sign that says “Thank God for dead soldiers”?

I would like to know what is being done back home about these people. It seems that the Patriot Guard is filling in where our legislation has failed.

Interesting take on Phelps. I think that the coffins should be shown, and not as "propaganda" but as a silent witness to the price of war. Also, I beleive that there is a law being passed to prevent Phelps from disturbing funerals.

Sad really that laws have to be passed to combat Fred Phelps.

Thanks for posting this, the letter titled "War based on a lie" was succinct, Here's hoping we indict these criminals in the WH in '06.

[BlueEyedSon]

3. to control their oil and establish bases in the Middle East.

to control their oil and establish bases in the Middle East.
to control their oil and establish bases in the Middle East.
to control their oil and establish bases in the Middle East.
to control their oil and establish bases in the Middle East.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

4. It's different when Russia does it, it's different when Russia does

it, it's different when Russia does it,it's different when Russia does it,it's different when Russia does it,it's different when Russia does it,it's different when Russia does it,it's different when Russia does it,it's different when Russia does it,it's different when Russia does it,it's different when Russia does it,it's different when Russia does it,it's different when Russia does it,it's different when Russia does it,it's different when Russia does it,

[mainer]

5. Did you read the rest of that e-stripes page?

My gosh. LTTE's bemoaning the "war against Christmas" and one letter claiming that pagan solstice celebrations arose to SUPPLANT the Roman Christians!

[lebkuchen]

6. The Bushies have their plants in Stripes

and have carried on that Christian crusade in the letter's section since the staff turnover a handful of months ago. Anyone wishing to get a letter in sideways has had to do so with a complaint about fairness attached to it.