Like all Americans, I was saddened to read of the death of seven U.S. soldiers reported in the Saturday, Sept. 8, edition. I believe we all mourn with the families of those killed. Were the names and hometowns of those killed known to the newspaper’s editors? They were not in the article.

Why was the article reporting their deaths on the bottom of page 7? Is this not worthy of a more prominent place in your newspapaper.

I would like to know whose decision it was to place the article on page 7. Are the editors responsible for article placement? Regardless, is it fair to place this report on page 7, while the picture of Bush surrounded by smiling troops in Iraq earlier this week was on the bottom of page 1? I don’t think so.

I, like many Americans and Mainers, oppose continued ground troops in Iraq. This continued war of attrition is immoral to my way of thinking. The Sun Journal has a moral obligation to report on this war in a balanced, equitable fashion. The Sept. 8 edition failed that standard.

Don’t hide the terrible costs of this terrible war.

Edward Ferreira, New Sharon