Editor:
In the March 21 edition of The New Era there was a cartoon showing a soldier having the rug pulled from under him and looking nervous.
I believe the soldier would have been very happy to come home to his or her family and not continue to risk life for corporate gain. I have 19 personal friends who have died between Iraq and Afghanistan. Their families have lost fathers, husbands, brothers, sons and uncles. When taking into account the numbers killed, consider the vast number directly effected.
Some people state if we pull out, the terrorist will attack America and they are right. They attacked our embassies in Africa, the USS Cole, World Trade Center, and the 9/11 attacks without us being in Iraq or Afghanistan. The 9/11 attack was conducted by Muslim extremists who were not based in Iraq, not funded by Iraq and still plotting today, with Americans deployed to the region making Jihad easier to commit. Our presence in the region does not change the religious hatred.
I spent 20 years in the military and my wife is still serving. Pondering the fact we should stay so those who died did not die in vain is honorable. Consider explaining it to a wife and kids whose husband/father dies next week. I believe they would not support the same thought.
Until the region supports a free Iraq, and other countries consider possibilities of bloodshed spilling into the region the U.S. will be forced to maintain the burden of peace while funding for roads, bridges, schools, dams and many other necessities falter.
Our military is the best at destroying a known enemy but a civil war with a non-identifiable foe is a police action for internal assets, not an occupation force.
I ask everyone to consider 19 very close friends you have spent considerable time with dead. Write their names and post it where you can look at it and consider the gains we are making in the region compared to the loss of your friends.
Wally Shreves
Sweet Home