To: The Cleveland Plain
Date:  November 17, 2002
Subject: Iraq vs. the war on terror
Result: not printed

Dear Editor,

As much as I like Condoleezza Rice - I hate her job - I think she missed the point when she said that President Bush's commitment to the war on terror is evident in the fact that the first thing he does every morning at 8 a.m. is meet with his people about the war on terror. "He does not begin his day on Iraq," she assures us.

The question is not at what time of day does the President talk about this or that thing. What is important is where are the resources going? We already spend and have spent a lot of money on Iraq. Certainly if we go to war with them, the costs will be great.

Meanwhile, there is still all kinds of uncovered territory in Afghanistan and Pakistan where bin Laden and his associates are likely to be hiding - probably under the protection of the "war lords", who enjoy total control over their particular regions. And the only loyalty they have to us or to their own governments is when they pretend to be loyal while we're giving them money.

Perhaps where we ought to be directing our attention is to subduing the war lords, so we can get to the bottom of who and what they may be hiding. But that would take resources - including the President's time - that are now committed to Iraq.

Thank you, John Vehon

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