Iraq future

To the editor:

One has to ask: What is America really doing in Iraq? Are we crazy or just delusional? We spent money we do not have, waging a war that was not necessary, in a country we do not like, for reasons that are, at best, dubious. To justify the war, the White House attempted to blame Iraq for terrorism, next hinted at weapons of mass destruction, then regime change, finally settling on a vague, altruistic cause of freedom and democracy for the oppressed Iraqi people. (Never mind we were not asked!) But why should young Americans die for Iraqi freedom? What were we thinking?

In truth, Iraqis will never fully appreciate or value their newfound freedom because they did not fight for it; they were not involved in the process except as hostile bystanders. They did not earn it. It was given to them on a platter and paid for in American blood. In return, religious mobs of enraged men in dirty robes scream at us to immediately leave their country.

Although President Bush’s administration assures us America is not into “nation building,” future plans for Iraq, costing hundreds of billions of American dollars over the years, include a universal health plan for all citizens, an education for all children, no religious influence in government and a national welfare program to feed Iraqis and completely rebuild their infrastructure.

We Americans, paying for all of this, should be so lucky!

Curt Bennett,

Lawrence