Kerry Spoke Correctly

A letter to the editor I just found on line:

Kerry spoke correctly
TriCities.com
Sunday, December 18, 2005

The Herald Courier said, in its Dec. 10 “Thumbs Down column,” Sen. John Kerry “stuck his foot in his mouth by tarring American soldiers.”

I remember the Army, and mostly soldiers do whatever they are ordered to do. Therefore, in Iraq, Kerry was speaking about policy. As well, the civilian population is suffering more than can be imagined; I thought the main American goal is to win the “hearts and minds” of the Iraqi people?

Eighty percent of the Iraqis think that we are foreign occupiers, and oil is our main goal. They want us out because they can see a civil war coming, if it is not already a civil war.

There is another irony here. At least, Kerry knows something about war. In his presidental bid the Bush campaign cut him to threads over his Vietnam Army record. Bush’s Vietnam record speaks for itself.

Even with all the bashing back and forth the worst thing about the war situtation may be the divisions as to the war in this country. To be clear, of course, the killing and maiming of our young and best is always number one.

Iraq is just one small island in the Middle East and Persian Gulf. Everyone should shut up and get our troops out sooner than later. Maybe the historians can sort out the validity of this war. However, at this time, it’s mostly cut and run or stay the course, and the only sure thing is each of us has the right to speak his own opinion.

Charles Gilmer
Lebanon, Va.