Like many people here, I am a registered Republican, a Latter-day Saint, and a sane and educated person. Unlike many people here, I was an Arabic linguist in the Army. I served as an interrogator in Afghanistan from 2002-2003 and was in Kuwait during Operation Iraqi Freedom. I have served my country and consider myself a patriot.
That being said, you have categorized me as 'insane' because I am against the war in Iraq. It is a war of choice, not of necessity. As a Christian I believe that violence is an absolute last resort, and therefore cannot support such a war. Of course I want to see an end to terrorism, I've put my life on the line combating it. However, I do not think that unnecessary invasions are going to persuade any extremists to stop hating and killing Americans.
Travis, stop pretending you know anything about the War on Terror, even with your degree in philosophy. It's not something you can understand by hearing sound bites from Fox News or by the mindless rhetoric of Bush's speeches. It's not about the American political left being anti-American and hoping to 'bring their country to its knees' (which was a ridiculous assumption to begin with). It's about combating a borderless, fanatical ideology.
You also say that you and the political right (a.k.a. 'the sane') are fighting for freedom. In what way are you personally fighting? I don't remember seeing you wearing a uniform or carrying a rifle in either theatre that I served in. Maybe you mean figuratively fighting in some abstract, philosophical way. Or maybe you mean verbally assaulting peace-loving people who oppose the war in
Iraq but love America just as much as you do. Yeah, you're a real hero.
Jeremy Branson
Antioch CA