John Kerry’s most recent position on Iraq is that he will bring the U.S. troops home within his first term. Putting a definite timeline down with regard to this is a mistake. What it does is give the opposition forces hope. They will be thinking that if they can hold out just a little longer, they will be left with a defenseless country and can take it over easily.

Regardless of your position on whether or not we should have initially gone to war, it is important that you realize a premature pullout will bring consequences that will undermine our war on terror.

Iraq will fall to the strongest and deadliest thug that desires to rule the country. It will also show the terrorists that we lack strength and are susceptible to their brutal tactics.

It has to be realized that it will take a while for the rule of law to take root in Iraq. The new government institutions need time to work. It will take time to rebuild Iraq’s infrastructure and economy. And it will take time for the Iraqi security forces to be trained and gain control. If we maintain our focus and our resolve, then the people that seek to bring us death and destruction will be discouraged.

Notice that at no point is support offered to explain why Bush’s policies are wrong. Rather, the statements are meant to imply that anybody who disagrees with him is compassionless, coldhearted and maybe even evil.

According to Dean Prestemon’s Sept. 7 letter, since only a compassionless, coldhearted person could hold such views, he must be wrong.

I am disappointed. I expected a bit more from an emeritus professor. My advice is to stick to forestry.

Dan Turnbull

Senior

Marketing