In a recent guest column, Rep. Raymond Pineau stated, “When Jerry Palmer died in Vietnam, I couldn’t write his mother to tell her what a wonderful soldier he was because I couldn’t explain to her why he died.” (July 20)

Rep.Pineau, he died for the same reason our troops in World War II and Korea died – to stop the spread of fascism and communism and to stop them from enveloping our way of life, a life better than our enemies offered.

While in Vietnam, how was Pineau able to remain unaware of the widespread slaughter of teachers, village leaders, politicians and intellects by these left-wing ideologues? The slaughter was carried out to eliminate possible opposition and as a lesson to others should they not accept their ideology.

Perhaps Pineau is unaware that our current enemies, fanatical Muslims, aspire to bring America to its knees.

Their attack on Sept. 11 set the current war in motion. Would Pineau prefer to fight this war on our soil or theirs?

Pineau seems to have forgotten that the rhetoric he is spewing only serves to encourage the enemy to fight on. Currently, casualties in Iraq seem to increase proportional to political defeatist/moralistic rhetoric.

If Pineau and the Democrats want to go after President Bush, stick to the domestic issues, the economy, health care and the environment. But please, stop putting our troops in further danger by criticizing him on the war.

Robert E Macdonald, Lewiston

Commandant, Central Maine Detachment, Marine Corps League

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