President Obama delivers a prime time address from the White House on Sept. 10 in Washington, D.C. Vowing to target the Islamic State with air strikes “wherever they exist,” Obama pledged to lead a broad coalition to fight IS and work with “partner forces” on the ground in Syria and Iraq. (Saul Loeb-Pool, Getty Images)
Another Middle East war is not in our best interest. The Islamic State is a nasty group, no doubt about it — another Islamic fanatical faction. The dynamics of the Sunni-Shiite relationship complicate all efforts, and the dynamics of the coalition (whoever they are) will also be extremely complicated. The more I learn about this issue, the more I’m convinced we should stay out and stay away.
If we do go to war, two things should occur:
1. Create a war tax. The more you earn, the more you pay. Include corporations as well.
2. Create a website so folks who think this war is such a great idea can sign up to spearhead and support the ground war.
If Americans are forced to put some skin in this project, it may not last as long.
Terry Cochran, Breckenridge
This letter was published in the Sept. 21 edition.The Republicans could not pass an acceptable immigration bill to finance the crisis on the border, leaving President Obama to act on his own. Obama won’t act on his own before the November election for political reasons. The Islamic State strategy should require congressional approval, but no vote will be taken because no Democrat wants to grant a positive vote. This is our government? To the 535 members of the legislative branch and the one in the executive branch, you care only about yourselves and you are all self-interested cowards.
Bill Heissenbuttel, Centennial
This letter was published in the Sept. 21 edition.Our leaders don’t seem to recognize we are engaging in religious wars, where terror is a weapon used by all sides.
The ally of one time and place is the enemy of another time and place. We arm a friend today, and the weapons are in the hands of enemies tomorrow.
Further, in this region, national boundaries are artificial, drawn by Western powers for their own interests, enclosing long-standing enemies.
Our strategy should be to stay out of these wars, providing humanitarian aid and intervening only to prevent genocide and keeping open lifelines.
Gary Hall, Denver
This letter was published in the Sept. 21 edition.Re: “Obama’s uncertain trumpet, again,” Sept. 13 Charles Krauthammer column.
Charles Krauthammer couldn’t be more wrong in stating, “You could sense that Obama had been dragged unwillingly into this new unproclaimed war,” and, “Every poll shows that Americans overwhelmingly want something to be done.”
Americans voted for Obama to (hopefully) keep us out of more wars, and most of us (Krauthammer and his Republican pols excepted) are being dragged unwillingly.
Sure, Americans want something to be done, but usually there are no perfect solutions, and Americans — contrary to Krauthammer’s pseudo-patriotic bravado — do not particularly like the Republicans’ non-solutions.
R. Kiefer, Arvada
This letter was published in the Sept. 21 edition.
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