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SATURDAY April 3 , 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels April 2, 2004 Tidings misses the point of War on Terrorism The Tidings March 20 editorial, "One year of lost lives is more than enough" honors the Americans who have given up their lives in the war on terror, as do I. Al Qaida declared this war on us in May of 1998, but its opening salvos, bombing of our East Africa embassies and the USS Cole, provoked ineffective response. The events of 9/11, two and one-half years ago, signaled our entry into the war as noted by President Bush: "Victory against terrorism will not take place in a single battle, but in a series of decisive actions against terrorist organizations and those who harbor and support them." More than 550 Americans have died from hostilities in Afghanistan and Iraq since 9/11. To put this in perspective, about the same number died from alcohol related auto deaths in Oregon in the same time period. Where is the outrage over these senseless deaths? Los Angeles County reported more gang related deaths in 2000. Where are the 'quagmire' claimants? Ten months ago, from the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln, which had successfully completed its mission in the Middle East and was returning home, President Bush declared "major combat operations in Iraq have ended. We have difficult work to do in Iraq. We're bringing order to parts of that country that remain dangerous. "The war on terror is not over; yet it is not endless." The editorial erroneously stated that Bush claimed that the "hostilities were indeed over." Fifty-seven percent of the respondents to the latest Newsweek poll think "the United States did the right thing in taking military action against Iraq last year" - perhaps because, since 9/11, 53 million people in two countries have been freed from totalitarian oppression and are striving to create democratic governments. One hundred and twenty Oregon National Guard members of the 186th Infantry, headquartered in Ashland, are bound for Iraq in the near future to participate in this effort. They deserve our support. The editorial asks 'What will it be next?" In the near term: a U.S. force reduction of about 15 percent is planned as the Iraqis assume more control of their security and governance. In the further term: under President Bush, an orderly transition to, and continued support for, democratization. Thirty years ago, John Kerry led anti-war efforts which resulted in the premature U.S. abandonment of Southeast Asia and the subsequent death of an estimated 2.2 million Vietnamese, Cambodians and Laotians over the following decade. Is this the 'next' that he and the anti-war protesters have in mind for Southwest Asia? Jo W. French Ashland DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: The new search is here! Click here for more information. .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - ODOT Road Cams