Readers speak out on the war

We need to show more compassion, humanity

I have this constant queasy feeling in my gut and imaginative flashes of the horrors of what modern weaponry is doing to the innocents and the most vulnerable of Iraqi society.

The truly grotesque nature of the death and destruction of war is hidden from our view. We all need to show more compassion, humanity and love.

Yoshie Chihara

Environment Hawai'i view on war is silly

I find Environment Hawai'i's Island Voices commentary sickening, and its authors, the directors and staff of Environment Hawai'i, not only unpatriotic but stupid as well.

These folks are still crying foul over the last presidential election when they refer to President Bush, "our nominal president." As Forrest Gump said, "Stupid is as stupid does."

Maybe these folks have not noticed that we have over 300,000 young servicemen and women in harm's way and our president is doing his best to pull the everyday Iraqi citizen from under the heel of the butcher of Baghdad.

Their stated belief that our president is only motivated by a desire for oil wealth is both moronic and silly. I will never take these people seriously again.

Bob Hampton
Hawai'i Kai

It doesn't make sense to protest the war now

While driving home the other day, I came across a group of citizens standing alongside Vineyard Boulevard waving signs in support of stopping the war against Iraq. My immediate thought was: Where were you before the war started?

It makes absolutely no sense to me to stand beside a public highway and implore passers-by to stop the war. It's too late for that now. No one ever wants war, and it was no different this time.

No, I believe that no matter where we may have stood on this issue just a week ago, we should all now stand together — indivisible — in support of our brave military men and women. Instead of waving signs admonishing war, we should all be praying for the safe and immediate return of our sons and daughters.

To our troops: Godspeed. Fight the good fight, and come home soon.

James Kauhi

'Pre-emptive war' raises key questions

President Bush has just legitimized the American doctrine of pre-emptive war that was originally put forth by Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz over a decade ago. Therefore, in my opinion, it is now of the greatest importance for all Americans to weigh not only the strategic advantages of pre-emptive war, but also the moral consequences of such a practice.

If our president so willingly resorts to the use of violence, even when diplomatic alternatives were showing concrete signs of progress, how can he expect individual Americans to work through their everyday problems without the use of violence? How can our president — the leader of the greatest military and economic power in the world — expect other countries not to do the same?

Norman Kukona
Mililani

Let's come together to support our troops

Now is the time for all of us to take a stand and support President Bush.

As a wife of an active-duty soldier, I completely understand the consequences of the U.S action against Iraq and other foreign enemies. On the same note, I believe that we cannot stand by and allow tyrants to bully our country into fear and submission. We saw the fear tactics on 9/11 and it brought out strength instead.

Let's come together once again and support our president and troops overseas. I pray for President Bush, his family, the leadership of the U.S and our allies.

Please, do the same.

Kelsey A. Raposa
Wahiawa

'Questions remain' editorial uncalled for

Why couldn't you just say "Godspeed to military" in your March 20 editorial? Adding "but questions remain" is insulting to our men in uniform in Iraq.

Now is not the time for The Honolulu Advertiser to exhibit a Jane Fonda syndrome. Now is not the time for The Advertiser to mimic Sen. Daschle.

If you have nothing to say, please don't say it.

Please support our troops with no ifs or buts about it.

Ruben R. Reyes
Waipahu

Unprovoked attack by U.S. isn't justified

I haven't felt this bad since 9/11. How is this war different from Germany's occupation of Poland, or Iraq attacking Kuwait?

Saddam may be a dire threat, or he may not be, but how can that justify this unprovoked attack? Saddam is not al-Qaida, he's not even religious. No country has the right to attack another without international approval and support. If we allow it in this case, then nothing stops any two-bit dictator from attacking their neighbors.

I am American, and I love my country dearly. I can't stand to see us do something so clearly evil. It's tearing me up. The world will turn away from us because of this. We have become, by our own definition, a rogue nation. The reasons we are doing this are immaterial; all that matters is the action itself.

Allen Slea