Letter to the Editor

In response to Sept. 11, Bush has waged a war on terrorism.

The United States has long known that terrorist groups exist throughout the world, threatening our safety. Sept. 11 proved that any of these groups are capable of imposing great harm.

To secure America and publicly display the consequences of such an attack, we should actively pursue Osama bin Laden/al Qaida and bring them to justice.

However, President Bush has half-heartedly implemented our capabilities toward doing so.

Meanwhile, he has devoted major efforts to invading Iraq and capturing Saddam Hussein.

Though Saddam is a threat there is no evidence of a link to al Qaida, or any imminent threat, as Bush has attempted to portray. Nor is there evidence that Iraq is proliferating weapons of mass destruction, defeating yet another Bush claim.

Please understand that Article 51 of the United Nations charter only makes war legal without U.N. approval when it’s in self defense. Consequently, the war against Iraq is not justified. Bush has disregarded this, ignored U.N. recommendations and proceeded into a pre-emptive war.

Such action has voided the international standards and laws that the United States has strived half a century to create.

Moreover, it has shattered great alliances and promoted anti-Americanism, threatening our long-term safety.

One must question the rationale and motives of a president who avoids collaboration from the U.N. and approaches foreign affairs in this way. The reality is that President Bush has not acted justly in attempting to secure America, but rather has damaged our ties enough to increase our vulnerability to future attacks.

—Stephanie Banks