Letter to the editor

   Dear Editor:

   I've read your article (European leaders hide heads in sand), and, I want to say that I respect your point of view, but at the same time there are a few things I disagree with you on.

   First of all, look what countries are against any military action against Iraq: France, Germany and Russia. Have you ever asked yourself why they are against it? Probably, because they know what it looks like to be in war.

   You see, America never suffered (not like many nations in Europe), never had to fight on its own soil (I don't count Civil and Independence Wars). Nations in Europe, who experienced it, prefer to find some other way of solving problems. Why not try to see if there are other solutions and not send troops to fight for something.

   Second, I think that the United States is interested not in "protecting poor people in Iraq" but in gaining control over Iraq and its oil. It's not a secret that the most important thing for every American is money. In every war, the United States made billions of dollars by selling weapons to both sides.

   America always had material values. And very often the U.S. "desire" to get more, turns against us. For example, when Russia went to Afghanistan in 1980s the United States gave a lot of weapons to Talibans, and now they are fighting America with its own weapons. There are a lot of similar examples.

   Also, I don't support war based on the president's ideas of "some dangerous weapons of mass distraction" in Iraq.

   What would have happened if President Kennedy had attacked the Soviet Union without getting evidence of missiles in Cuba? Probably, not many of us would be alive today.

   President Bush thinks that he knows what is best for everyone, and he doesn't want to consider others. Personally, I'm in favor of some kind of action against Iraq, but I think that we need to think before doing something.

   Maybe Iraq is not a "civilized nation," but we are, and we should act like one. I could argue about a lot of issues, but I just don't want to waste your time.

Sergei Smal

South Campus