I learned a great deal during my 10 years of service with the Marine Corps, and I’d like to put some of that knowledge to use today by explaining how and why I believe the current administration has caused more harm than good.

I learned a great deal about terrorism during those years. A war on terror is meant to reduce the panic associated with terror attacks. It is, after all, the intention of a terrorist to panic the society it is directed against. Why, then, did I see every conceivable worst-case scenario presented to us by the very government and media that is meant to help us? Because the intent was not to calm the public but to build resolve for war in Iraq.

All of these worst-case scenarios shown last year had already been shown to our military forces as far back as 1990. This training was meant to familiarize us with the tactics and weapons we might face in modern warfare. Even this terror threat level, that does nothing more than frighten the public, was first used on the military back in 2000.

If there is any threat, it comes from those who demand war when discussions might more easily accomplish our goals. We did, if you’ll recall, have an opportunity to end the dispute with Iraq peacefully when Saddam Hussein agreed to disarm and actually made efforts to do so.

Diplomatic means must be exhausted before our troops are sent in, not after.

Jamie Beaulieu, Jay

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