First, I will thank Alex Cornell du Houx for his service to our country. But I disagree with his assessment of the war in Iraq (“A Maine Veteran marks the end of the nine-year war,” Dec. 17).

A war of nine years that should not have happened. It accomplished neither Iraq’s freedom nor independence.

He talks of securing Iraq, “transitioning” in Afghanistan and liberating Libya, but all will be back to the world they know before our very expensive involvement began. Today Libya is under martial law ruled by the army. Afghanistan has been fought over for thousands of years, and before the Americans. The Russians fought for more than 10 years, bankrupting their country, warning the Americans not to avail themselves there as no one has ever held sway over the Afghans.

Put your hand in a bucket of water, then remove it. The impression left in the bucket is the same that will be left in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya after costing maybe 5,000 deaths and many more coming home with life-changing injuries. I don’t find it a worthy sacrifice, as not one American life is worth that ill-conceived action.

I also have a nephew who fought in Fallujah as a Marine captain, losing two of his command in a firefight and he himself losing partial use of his left arm. The long term will see him losing full use of his arm.

Mr. du Houx says that by keeping “promises of finishing the Iraq war (and) defeating Osama bin Laden America has re-established both its strength and its international reputation.” He is wrong on all counts.

We as Americans are more at risk from both inside and outside than we have been in any time in our history. That involvement has alienated all the Middle East that will not be soon forgotten.

David S. Kaler is a former Marine who lives in Bath.

 

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