It seems clear to me that Mr. Johann listened to Mr. Bush's speech with bias, if he listened at all. Mr. Johann needs to read the Old Testament for a valuable history lesson--sometimes people are so wicked and evil that the world is safer if military strength is used to deal with them.

If we leave Iraq, terrorists will take over the area and grow very strong as they multiply. Then they will attack us again and our allies such as Great Britian and Spain. If we leave Iraq without our military, Al Qaeda will kill those who oppose their rule of terror and Iraq will become a giant terrorist training ground. Al Qaeda is not going to be "won over" by us showing tenderness and mercy to them. They won't hold our hands as we sing "Koom-bi-ya." They cannot be reasoned with. They will see us leaving as a sign of weakness and an opportunity to rule the land. The only way the Iraqi people can be protected is with military force. Mr. Johann's wishful thinking may sound nice and like it's an easy way out, but it is nowhere close to reality. God understood that some people are so evil and bad for humanity that they should be taken out by a military. We read of God even telling His people in a certain situation to kill all of a certain group--men, women and children.

If we leave the Iraqi people to fin for themselves against the terrorists, many more innocent people will die. Our targets are the psycho killers who commit suicide bombings and torture children. Removing them will save more lives than will be taken.

Mr. Johann needs to understand that sometimes there's no easy way out and that the right thing to do is not always fun to hear. Because of his clear lack of understanding and cherry picking of Bible passages, I will not publish his "response." Nowhere does God command His people to leave the world to those who seek to kill the innocent. That is NOT peace.

Lee Wilson

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The above letter from a reader is for discussion purposes, and should not be construed to reflect the position of Plough.