Common sense

Dear Editor,

I would like to thank your newspaper for being available online. It is good to read a little about home while over here in the Middle East. After browsing through this morning, I discovered Mr. Stramel's letter of 11 May 04 concerning the Iraqi War. As usual, I am not sure if Mr. Stramel is being intentionally comedic or if he is actually serious. You will have to excuse my ignorance.

As for the situation in Iraq, I know the people of McCook and the surrounding area have the common sense to realize what is actually happening over here. They know that a few U.S. Soldiers mistreating and torturing prisoners will make more headlines than an entire regime that committed 30 years of worse.

They know that three options of Islam are to be a devout follower, be a nonbeliever and pay a protection fee to Islam or be a nonbeliever and be killed. They also know that the second option becomes null and void, when a follower of Islam determines that they no longer want to accept payment, which in turn means the third option applies. They are aware of the outstanding support the Iraqi people are providing us when it comes to exposing weapons caches, improvised explosive devices, ambushes and snipers. They are aware of inexpensive and high quality jobs that the company of Kellog, Brown and Root is doing for, not only the U.S., but the U.S. Soldier. And lastly, the people back at home are aware of which two statements are true and which two are false.

Staff Sgt. David C.

McConnell

via e-mail