Letter: When our war’s enemies become the victims

Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007 | 7:28 a.m.

Vito Tomasino was extremely articulate in his Sept. 9 letter, "Tactical errors ensure survival of terrorism." He is an example of the Americans who look at the situation this administration has created and critiques it accurately. I would like to add some comments I consider relevant.

The war on terrorism, much like the war on drugs, is a thorn in the side of law-abiding citizens of the world . Both situations have been a negative component for centuries, but it took a couple of speech writers along the way to give names to the problems.

In both of these wars, victories are not accomplished by confronting the individuals at the end of the equation. In other words, by incarcerating drug users and by shooting militant Muslims we are not getting any closer to solving these two problems. As Mr. Tomasino implied, the only way to solve the problem is by getting to the root of the problem, not by expending lives and tax dollars on the symptoms of the problem.

It is ironic that the "enemies" in both of these wars are also the victims. They are people who see themselves as disadvantaged and needy. In their predicaments, they see very few options to overcoming their plights.

My letter is not saying that the solution is simple, no way. Governments, local, state and national, have a responsibility in providing opportunities for the disadvantaged and needy, not in cash handouts, but in education and in safer environments. When these would-be terrorists and drug users are able to see more options, fewer of them will choose self-destructing lives. As long as their presence is ignored, civilization will have to face the consequences.

Ken Anderson, Las Vegas