I am an honorably discharged veteran of the Korean War. I feel I am patriotic, but I am listening to some of my fellow veterans who say they have little patriotism left because we are no longer the country we once were.
When I think about it, they may have a valid point. When one is witness to the perfidy of our vacuous politicians, it is difficult to maintain a positive attitude about the future of America. Many needs in America go begging for lack of funding, yet hundreds of billions are appropriated for Iraq and various pork-barrel schemes by Congress.
Even worse are the needless deaths in Iraq of hundreds of our military men and women. Washington's lies and hypocrisy are sickening. President George W. Bush says we went to war in Iraq because of concern for the freedom of the Iraqi people. I believe that as much as I am concerned that the sun is going to rise in the West rather than the East.
If Mr. Bush were in Iraq with a rifle and a helmet, he would not say "Bring them on!" He'd say, "Get me out of here!"
WALTER E. GUNTHER
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