Democracy allows, thrives on dissent

Two recent letters to the editor claim those who disagree with our administration’s policy in Iraq are giving aid and comfort to the enemy. I thought our main goal is to preserve and spread the institution of democracy, which not only allows dissent, but thrives on it. Those who disagree with President Bush should quietly ignore what could be one of the worst policy decisions in our history? We have a responsibility to end this disgraceful, pre-emptive war. We need to bring home our troops, not further expose them to a terrible situation with few prospects of success.

I strongly support our troops and all veterans. Disagreeing with foreign policy should not and cannot be the test of patriotism. The resource of our armed forces should be carefully used only in the most dire of circumstances. The facts finally coming out show this is not the case in Iraq. The terrorist war was and is in Afghanistan. Saddam’s iron fist allowed little terrorist activity in Iraq. Now it’s the opportunity of a lifetime for Islamic militants and would-be martyrs.

Finally, it was Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger “snatching defeat from the jaws of victory” in Vietnam, not the Democrats. They negotiated the give-away ending to that conflict by cutting and running.

Snohomish

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