A right and obligation to speak out

To the editor: Bravo to Richard Bennett for speaking out against the war in Iraq even though many feel that we must keep quiet during the war and that to speak out in protest is somehow unpatriotic. To those who support this war I am quite amazed that you didn’t know that upon W’s taking office we were going into Iraq. As has happened with many ruling family dynasties throughout history, the younger Bush had a score to settle with Hussein for dissing the elder Bush and used the backdrop of the towers coming down in New York City to justify it. The idea that a president who became president through the machinations of his brother in Florida being so intent on installing a democratic government in Iraq is simply preposterous and begs the question of how murderous our president’s actions have to become before people in this country cry out for his removal. Me - I would have demanded that the heads of bin Laden and his chief cohorts be placed on stakes in Battery Park as a statement to the world that we don’t tolerate terrorist actions on our shores. As for supporting this war there are those who say that we need more troops over there and look to retired military and National Guard to fill these slots. I disagree. This war, besides being a personal vendetta, is about oil - concocted by an administration that is marinated in oil. Therefore, I suggest that we supply more troops by drafting SUV drivers. After all, it’s these drivers who have stated loud and clear that they could give a damn about our having to import more oil from despotic regimes and are willing to go to war to sustain their driving habits. Not only do we have the right to speak out against our government during war - we have an obligation to do so. Mark Tatro Warwick