To the editor:

In a recent USA Today/ CNN/Gallup Poll (the most extensive to date), only a third of the Iraqi people now believe that the American-led occupation of their country is helping; 80 percent of Shiites and Sunnis describe U.S. forces as “occupying” Iraq rather than “liberating” it; and a solid majority of Iraqis support an immediate military pullout, even though they fear that could put them in greater danger. High officials in the elected Iraq government are also on record saying they want us to pull out.

Bush has spoken over and over and over about how we are spreading democracy in Iraq. If this illegal war is not actually about oil, feeding the huge defense industry or creating wonderful opportunities for graft, corruption and outrageous profits in Halliburton-like corporations, we should soon see this administration promote a plan to honor the stated wishes of this sovereign country and bring our troops home. Is anyone else holding their breath?

Daniel Patrick Schamle,

Lawrence