Letter: Sheehan’s agenda is far

Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2005 | 8:23 a.m.

Excuses have changed repeatedly, but the war in Iraq has absolutely nothing to do with bin Laden's Afghanistan-based al-Qaida attack on Sept. 11, 2001. I heartily support our efforts in Afghanistan and strongly believe we should have continued to pursue those who really attacked our country.

I come from a proud, three-generation military family who fortunately never espoused blind allegiance to any doctrine. We fought and died for freedom, which includes the right to disagree on any issue and speak freely about it.

Most Americans have come to the sad realization that this disastrous invasion and diversion from pursuing bin Laden was based upon deliberate misrepresentations and willful distortions of the truth.

A woman on a personal vigil, attempting to reconcile the death of her son with this unnecessary loss of American lives, was vilified. Others who agree with her, and support a real dialogue about this fiasco, are not her "handlers." The administration's handlers have proven not to be concerned about average Americans. To claim that this grieving woman, Cindy Sheehan, has an "anti-American agenda" is a pathetic justification to blindly follow a misguided agenda.

How dare anyone judge this mother's attempt to cope with the loss of her son? I doubt the Sheehan story is news in Baghdad. Lack of armor plating and shabby treatment by civilians who dodged military service does gut the morale of our brave men and women in the military and the morale of every true patriotic American willing to tackle difficult issues and hold politicians accountable.

Daniel Pia Las Vegas