To the editor:

I take exception to some of the commentary by Dolph Simons Jr. in the Sept. 13 edition. He wonders how many Americans realize how fortunate we are that the last seven years have brought no more attacks. My sense of good fortune gives way to wondering how many of us realize that in a very real way we have been under attack every day since Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney decided to invade and occupy Iraq.

Beyond the death and destruction of 9/11, Osama bin Laden must have hoped that the U.S. would be goaded into a response that was not in her self-interest. As the roll of U.S. dead and maimed grows longer, as billions of dollars are added to our already crushing debt, as the numbers of Iraqi casualties mount amid their ruined cities, I conclude that bin Laden succeeds in attacking us still.

Mr. Simons says that a constant theme of the Democratic campaign is that John McCain represents a continuation of Bush’s policies. This theme is justified if for no other reason than McCain has said that he would have invaded Iraq even if there had been no evidence of mass destruction weapons. McCain’s judgment is suspect, and somebody needs to point that out – the opposition party, the media, ordinary citizens, somebody.

Michael McDonald,
Lawrence