Not everyone believes this is a "purposeless, misguided war", least of all those that have fought it.  Most, perhaps not all, sailors, soldiers and marines believe strongly that their service in Iraq has a powerful purpose.  Granted the purpose is not obvious, and very difficult to understand, but looking deeply into it, the war does serve our national interest and national security, as well as being morally just.....namely fighting a brutal form of fascism, bringing liberty to an enslaved people, securing a base to promote the freedom of many millions more, who by their own efforts may follow the example of the Iraqi people. We lost many more men 60 years ago fighting another brutal form of fascism.  Liberty prevailed then, and it will prevail now.

 Unfortunately it has been, and remains, a very difficult war to execute, and mistakes have been made.  To a people used to instant gratification it has been extremely frustrating.  But I strongly feel that in the end the Middle East will become a better place for the people living there and for us.

 Now back to your regularly scheduled vanagon programming.

 Anthony (USN-RET)
 '89 Syncro GL (Hidalgo)

Geza Polony <gezapolony@SBCGLOBAL.NET> wrote: Those of us who believe recent wars to be counterproductive to American
interests are put in a bind on days like this: While we appreciate the
bravery and self-sacrifice of those who put themselves in harm's way, we
believe the wars they fought were mistakes, and so feel conflicted
expressing gratitude. If everyone had refused to fight the purposeless,
misguided war in Iraq, for example, we would not be be faced with the
disaster we are in now. The decision to begin this war was not made by
18-year- old high schoolers from Kentucky or wherever, yet without them it
could not have been fought. How do you thank those who have unknowingly
precipitated a catastrophe?

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