To the editor:

I listen to the news on TV and read the newspapers. Most of the time I am appalled by what I read and see and hear on television.

Everyone has his or her opinion about the war in Iraq and why we are there. We know the war in Iraq is a bloody mess and soldiers and Iraqis die almost every day. I ask myself, What was the real reason for starting this war, and why was there was no exit plan?

This war was not the slam dunk George Tenant said it would be. Weapons of mass destruction were never found. Hans Blitz wanted to keep looking, but the president decided not to wait and invaded Iraq.

Sept. 11 was used to convince the American people Iraq was in some way responsible. Wrong again, and now the situation in Iran is heating up and you can hear the drums of war sounding in the distance if diplomatic solutions are not successful.

Everyone can draw their own conclusion how we will get out of Iraq.

Virginia Parsons,

Lawrence