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John Ruckman of Lakewood writes:

Ron Perkins has been listening to too much right wing talk radio if he thinks that Iraq is the “epicenter” of the war on terrorism. It is not now and never has been. Iraq was a country ruled by a tyrant, but that had no operational ties to either Al Quada or Taliban prior to our invasion. That has been shown time and time again by our our troops in the field and by many other sources. If Mr. Perkins were to contact the CIA or FBI I think he would find that they — if willing to speak about it — would tell him the same as I have just noted. Iraq, prior to the American invasion was no threat to America in any way that any one who knows the true facts has determined. Were they trying to get an atomic weapon? Certainly, but so are at least ten other countries, some allies and some potential enemies. That threat in Iraq was well under control prior to March 2003. The terrorist threat is not limited to any one country and is certainly not centered in Iraq. That country since 2003 has been in far too much turmoil to harbor any such sort of central management. Had we not invaded Iraq the terrorists that are there today would not be there, they came in on the heels of our invasion due to the lack of control in the country and on the borders after 2003 that has carried on until the present time. That is largely due to our government dismantling the Iraqi army and police force which left a huge vacuum of power — that vacuum was filled by insurgents of every stripe trying to gain more power. We are now paying the price for our mistakes. Our current Congress, while in some disarray on this issue, is trying to begin what should have been started at least two years ago, get the Iraqis to manage their own country and get our people out of there as soon as practicable. Ultra conservative talk such as Mr. Perkins is not useful to achieving that goal. The Bush people have proven over the last four years that they are incapable of properly managing a war, they seriously misjudged the after effects of their invasion, in fact had nearly no plan at all for the reconstruction of Iraq and their minimal diplomatic ventures were so biased and poorly initiated that they often caused more turmoil than improvement. They were adamant from the start that they could “go it alone” which lost us several solid allies and cost the U.S. many tax dollars unnecessarily and quite likely, many Iraqi and some American lives.

This letter has not been edited.

READER COMMENTS

John...turn off the TV and radio, quit listening to what all those journalists what you to hear. Then go out on the patio, enjoy the breeze...then start thinking for yourself.

"then start thinking for yourself."

Translation: make up the "facts" yourself so that they fit your policy. E.g., combat operations are over.

Wingnuts are such "thinkers" - Keith is their philosopher in chief.

Go out on the porch and remember that Iraq attacked us on 9/11.

You democratrats are traiters.

Praise W!

Al-Qaida has itself proclaimed on its' own websites (for recruiting efforts) that Iraq is the central battleground.

We certainly can't believe them, but we will believe the MSM anti-Bush, defeatist crowd, right John?

No doubt Bush has screwed this whole this up from the start. No argument there.

As for the statement - "no operational ties to either Al Quada or Taliban prior to our invasion." Nice inclusion of the word OPERATIONAL there, John. That makes it beyond dispute.

For those inclined to believe (some of) what George Tenet has said, he plainly stated that Saddam was allowing groups like Al-Qaida to meet in his country. I don't believe much of anything that Tenet says, so who knows?

Only "maroons" are stupid enough to believe that Iraq attacked us. But, then, many folks can't name the secretary of state of the U.S., either.

there is a liberal idiot deleteing facts,anybody like my self who print facts ,start again,WE WILL BUST THESE LOWLIFES.I just ran a post because I know it we be deleted,we will show facts were deleted because documented facts are offensive to lying liberals.liberals.

there is a liberal idiot deleteing facts,anybody like my self who print facts ,start again,WE WILL BUST THESE LOWLIFES.I just ran a post because I know it we be deleted,we will show facts were deleted because documented facts are offensive to lying liberals.liberals.

there is a liberal idiot deleteing facts,anybody like my self who print facts ,start again,WE WILL BUST THESE LOWLIFES.I just ran a post because I know it we be deleted,we will show facts were deleted because documented facts are offensive to lying liberals.liberals.

After reading these posts now I know why they're called right-wing nut jobs.

Keith, does your mouse finger weigh three pounds? Lightly, lightly, Sir. Once is enough!

Then perhaps keith should start stating facts instead of the sad little insults he has filled every post with.

sharon b.,no but something else does.

Keith

Can't be your brain that weighs three pounds. That's only the size of a pea.

Keith - you're the best! Thoughtful, articulate, compassionate and with such a commanding grasp of language. Why does the moderator keep deleting your works of art?

And you obviously consult "Elements of Style" for your sentence structure and punctuation!

Because I present facts,he what everybody to be a viiage idiot like you..

"he what everybody to be a viiage idiot like you". Classic.

Keith makes me laugh and lately that means a lot to me.

"He ( who disagrees,is) what eveybody (thought) to be a village idiot like you (are).

Just fill in the missing words and there you are.

Keith: I warned you. I suggested you employ premier scribes like god appoints to get his word out. You are reaping what you sow and you are not sowing anything but ridicule. Me, your friendly deicide.

Keith: I warned you. I suggested you employ premier scribes like god appoints to get his word out. You are reaping what you sow and you are not sowing anything but ridicule. Me, your friendly deicide.

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