Isn't it amazing that, when called out on the inaccuracies of an argument, liberals (or Libertarians) always change their position and start with the personal attacks. Mr. John Wilhelmsen do you know me? Have we ever met? Where do you get off calling me a "young gung-ho guy?" Did I ever state in my article that I had "other priorities" that prevented me from enlisting? I have a hard time understanding why The State News would allow you to attack someone you do not even know, ("All those in favor of war should enlist" SN 5/26). For your information, I am 35 years old (not exactly "young gung-ho" by military standards) and, as far as my family's military service, that service was made for the country - not to impress you - so I will not put it on display just to appease you. And since I do not know you, nor is it relevant to the argument, there will be no personal attacks (just like my last letter).
As far as the facts are concerned, did Bush ever state that Iraq was an imminent threat, or did he simply say that 12 years was enough time for Iraq to prove that it disarmed? I know there are plenty of people in this country who would have liked to give Saddam Hussein another 12 years or more, but sooner or later someone had to stand up and Bush did. President Clinton didn't wage a war on Iraq, but he did bomb Iraq, remember? But just like everything else in his two terms, he ultimately left the hard work for someone else and waged war against the true imminent threat, Kosovo, instead.
Neither Mr. Wilhelmsen nor Mr. Parlato answered the question about the Iraqis that died as a result of chemical weapons. No one has proven that those weapons were destroyed. Iraq at one point and time did have weapons of mass destruction as evident by the gassing of thousands of Iraqis. Can either of you prove those were destroyed or account for them? No. So they could still be out there either still hidden or moved to another country.
Normally, I would not care about what was said in response to an opinion letter I wrote, but Mr. Wilhelmsen, you should never build your argument by criticizing someone personally, let alone criticizing someone personally that you do not even know.
Bryant Miller
environmental engineering graduate student
