[Peace-discuss] letter to the editor - supporting our troops =8-)

[Randall Cotton]

As suggested by Ricky Baldwin in a previous posting to this list, I sent the
following letter off to several regional newspapers in addition to the News
Gazette. This letter is not intended for those already against or even those
questioning the war. Why preach to the choir? This letter is aimed at
planting at least a potent seed of doubt in the minds of those who
steadfastly "support the troops" and trust our "commander in chief", perhaps
because they have service members in the family or as close friends. I was
struck by how many of those that spoke out in the Urbana City Council
against the anti-war resolution made the flawed argument that opposing this
war means opposing the troops. This argument shows the flawed logic of that
stand and uses our President's own claims and statements (which they
presumably trust) to turn that logic on its head.

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How to best support our troops

Many people complain that Americans shouldn't oppose our President's war
plans because that would "harm our troops". But President Bush says Saddam
has hundreds of tons of chemical and biological weapons. If the President
launches an invasion targeting Saddam's very existence, doesn't it stand to
reason that Saddam would use every last one of these horrific weapons to
"harm our troops"?

Our President has stated that the disarmament of Iraq must be resolved in
the next few weeks and if that means a ground invasion comprised of our own
sons and daughters, then so be it. Think about that for a second. He can't
wait to send our children to face hundreds of tons of chemical and
biological weapons before any of them are found and destroyed by U.N.
weapons inspectors. And if you think our troops are shielded from these
weapons by protective suits, think again. It has been repeatedly and
reliably reported that many of these suits are defective, that there aren't
enough of them and that our troops aren't properly trained to use them. On
February 16,"60 Minutes" reported that troops in the field are so frustrated
by the lack of preparedness that they have twisted the acronym NBC (Nuclear,
Biological & Chemical warfare) to mean "Nobody Cares".

The right way to genuinely support our troops, *especially* those of you
with sons or daughters serving, is to support U.N. inspections efforts and
oppose our President's reckless rush towards war.