I’ve seen the futility

of war
I read the Emerald every day. I commend you for your excellent editorial sensitivity and balance.
Congratulations to Jessica Cole-Hodgkinson for a very fine column (“Patriotic Dissent,” ODE, April 24) for clearly spelling out her thoughts on the futility of any war, especially this one.
I have earned the right to speak up. I’m 80 years old and served in World War II, China-Burma-India Theater, 14th Air, 51st Fighter Group, and Headquarters Squadron. I spent three years in service, two and a half years in harm’s way, in the combat zone. I was so fortunate to survive.
Ah, Iraq! Let’s see, the first 18 months of President George W. Bush’s presidency, he never once uttered the word Saddam Hussein. It was all Osama bin Laden, and the president said, “We’ll get him dead, or alive.” When that didn’t work, Bush said, “Let’s get Hussein, later we can talk about North Korea, Syria and Iran.”
So, we haven’t found bin Laden, Hussein or the weapons of mass destruction. We sure bombed the hell out of Iraq, but we’ll build it up better than ever.
As we renew Iraq, please remember our economy has tanked and we’re downgrading education and health care; not to mention budget cuts have us reeling.
I have a wonderful quote hanging on my wall:
“I hate war, as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity.”
— Dwight D. Eisenhower

Arthur Golden

Eugene