Mighty have an obligation to the weak

There quite definitely is a distinction between war, terrorism and murder. Even though all three result in death, that is the only common factor.

War is an armed conflict between nations, a military operation fought as a science against other, trained soldiers. Terrorism is a use of threats or force to intimidate another nation or group of peoples, usually targeted against innocent civilians, in an attempt to blackmail the other party into submission. Murder, on the other hand, is the unlawful, malicious or premeditated killing of another person, usually by another person or small group of people.

I personally see quite a stark contrast in the three. As far as being "personally responsible for the deaths of those killed," if I were a terrorist or a murderer, I would consider myself personally responsible. However, in a war, the responsibility lies with me only as a part of my country.

I believe the UK and US are fighting a just war. I believe they are going to great lengths to spare the civilian population, liberate the Iraqi people and destroy a despicable man and his evil regime.

I believe the majority of Iraqi's are overwhelmingly grateful for our presence.

The people of countries ruled by evil, disturbed, dictators more often than not need the help of the stronger countries in the world. Do we just stand back and offer no help (as France and Germany did) just because we are afraid of the consequences to our own countries? No, we do not. The mighty have an obligation to the weak.

I personally feel that the US and UK, along with our other coalition forces, should receive contracts to rebuild in Iraq. I see nothing wrong with the US receiving the bulk of those contracts. The US has the greatest number of troops fighting for Iraqi freedom, the greatest number of deaths and injuries, they are spending the greatest amount of money to liberate Iraq, and it will probably be mostly American dollars that are spent to rebuild Iraq!

So why shouldn't the US get the majority of contracts? France and Germany are probably a little peeved about it, because they are worried about their huge pre-war contracts with Iraq now being in jeopardy!

Iraq's resources are just that, IRAQ's resources. The wealth created by the sale of those resources will help the Iraqi people help themselves. Will the US buy Iraqi oil? Sure they will, but they will buy it, they will not take over Iraq, use up all their oil then leave the country.

Finally, comparing the war in Iraq with Nazism is ridiculous. The US, UK and other coalition forces are not trying to wipe out entire groups of people based on their religious or ethnic backgrounds.The fact that the world chose to ignore what Hitler was doing for so long is a shameful disgrace to all of us. Had the world, or even the "Super Powers" of the time, chosen to intervene (as we have chosen to do with Iraq), tens of thousands of Jews might have been saved. Surely the world has learned something from that!

Deborah K Schlemer, Bolton Evening News reader,

Pocahontas, IL 62275

USA