IDavid Kent am sick and tired of the written undertones and insinuations that people against the war in Iraq are also anti-U.S. troop support. Pro-war people are using “U.S. troop support” as a crutch to justify their backing of the war in Iraq. This is because the pro-war movement cannot justify the war on merit alone. It needs to propagate the association between pro-war and “supporting our troops” to help justify its cause.

I have to give the pro-war movement some credit for swaying millions of uneducated U.S. citizens to its side. But you have not fooled me. I am against our government’s decision to wage war on Iraq, and I support the men and women of our armed services 100 percent. Supporting our soldiers has absolutely nothing to do with our government’s decision to go to war.

I will borrow a phrase from President George W. Bush: “It’s time to show your hand.” Do not hide behind the “troop support” propaganda, and let’s see how many people actually support Bush’s decision to go to war. Let’s see how many Americans think we could have tried other diplomatic means before risking precious American lives in war. Let’s see how many Americans think the security of the United States is compromised if we do not go to war with Iraq.

Let’s see how many Americans believe war was the only solution. Let’s see how many Americans believe adding U.N. inspectors and extending their stay could have provided an adequate solution to the problem (including penalties to Iraq for violations). Let’s see how many Americans think the United Nations could have provided an adequate solution, given time. Let’s see how many Americans, at the time of war with the whole world watching, think Saddam Hussein’s regime posed an immediate threat to the United States or its interests. Let’s see how many Americans think prolonged diplomatic efforts would have given Hussein enough time to generate a terrorist strike against the United States or its interests. Let’s see how many Americans support our troops, regardless of pro-war or antiwar position.

We need to find answers to these questions so future decisions by our elected officials reflect the opinions of their constituents. If they do not, we need to elect different officials.

David Kent is a 1991 University graduate. Send letters to the editor to [email protected]