When do we say enough is enough?

The cost of war is going up. The headlines scream, “$80 billion more needed for war in Iraq.” The voice on the TV said 37 U.S. servicemen died in deadliest day so far in Iraq. Close to 1,400 U.S. military members have been killed in the past two years. Another 10,000 have been wounded, many severely. And we’re not counting the tens of thousands of Iraqi dead. (Quite literally, they are officially not being counted).

The question must be asked: When is the cost of this war too much? The president says that we are bringing freedom to the Iraqi people and that we must stay the course, however long it may take. Others say that we are the world’s strongest nation occupying a poor country with huge oil reserves. The time required to remain in Iraq has been variously estimated at an additional two, four, five, 10, 15 or 20 years.

So, do we just absorb this cost of war for who knows how many more years? Or do we seriously support our troops, bring them home now and end this misadventure?

ALBERT J. PENTA

Monroe