Letter: Presence in Iraq has made things worse

Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006 | 7:02 a.m.

Ken Lucas' Nov. 22 letter suggests that the Iraqis voted because they wanted to fight "Islamofacism." Lucas also suggests that the occupation of Iraq is a part of a war on those who attacked us on 9/11 and that our troops believe in that purpose. Finally, Lucas asks, "Our troops don't want to desert Iraqis. Why would people like (letter writers) Ray Harbert and James Poupard?"

In their election, most of the Iraqis did not know for whom they were voting. Most of them wanted the occupation to end, and they probably believed that voting might mean our troops would leave sooner.

The United States invaded and occupied Iraq to take control of and profit from the oil resources of the country. Only about 7 percent of the resistance is from outside terrorist groups. Most of the violence is internal and in reaction to the occupation.

The United States was attacked on 9/11 because our troops were present in Saudia Arabia. These fundamentalists are not interested in taking over the world, but they do want to take over the Middle East. Our occupation of Iraq has nothing to do with "Islamofacism" except to accidentally create more of it.

It is not true that our troops necessarily believe in this war. Most military people go to war because they are ordered to do so. Most are more loyal to each other than to a propaganda slogan. Many want to return to combat because it is exciting.

I suggest Mr. Lucas read the book "War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning," by Chris Hedges. Hedges says war is a narcotic. But then so is superpatriotism.

Jerry Bitts, Las Vegas