I’m writing about the Sun Journal’s photo of Christine Holden’s sign protesting the war in Iraq: “War is not the answer,” Sun Journal, Oct. 27.

I believe there was probably cause for war, and now for staying the course. First, the volatility of this region that controls half of the world’s oil reserves requires involvement. Second, a megalomaniac and his deranged sons – his heirs – would have exploited every chance to advance their wealth, power and dominion if not stopped. Third, no one but Saddam Hussein had both the resources to produce chemical and biological weapons and the ambition and malice to do so. Fourth, these weapons, over time, could be refined to become cheaper, simpler, more clandestine and more deadly. Fifth, the market was there for Saddam to acquire weapons so lethal and portable as to dissuade anyone from waging war to stop him, and for any terrorists willing to pay the price to procure them.

The war makes sense. We need to put our casualties in perspective. Those who have died to destroy this cancer now number less than two and a half weeks of auto fatalities in the U.S.; and less than 1/20th of those lost in Korea in as many months. Iraqi losses are greater, yes, but invariably those deaths are the work of terrorists.

Finally, and most telling, those who say “war is not the answer” offer no credible alternative but cut and run, meaning our dead died in vain.

William Budd, Litchfield

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