To the editor:

Mr. Smitley wrongly claimed in Saturday’s Public Forum that the war in Iraq is just. He makes no argument to support his claim and disregards the evidence that President Bush misled Congress and the American people about weapons of mass destruction, Iraq’s nuclear capability, and its involvement in 9-11.

In predicting dire consequences of an American pullout, he overlooked the dire situation already created by our invasion and occupation and its unleashing of old hatreds among the Iraqis.

As for the symbolic meaning of withdrawing, far from “spit on the graves of our troops,” I see it as symbolizing respect for human lives. Concern for symbolism is trumped by the reality that an immediate withdrawal would stop the flow of flag-draped caskets through Ramstein and Dover and the needless digging of new graves.

It’s the Democrats, not President Bush, who have finally awakened.

Paul Fairchild,

Lawrence