Could this be the biggest snow job of our lifetime? I am talking about the military buildup in the Middle East. Is it conceivable that our leaders are making everyone so convinced that war is imminent, that just maybe the evil Saddam Hussein will back down? It appears the Iraqi leadership is already prepared for a U.S. invasion, as nearly the whole world is.

If this is the case, our fearless leader has fooled everyone, including nearly our entire nation. But don't be surprised if Iraq backs down - the threat of the powerful American war machine could be its biggest weapon.

Thomas Meyer, Lakeside Park

War can liberate suffering Iraqi people

Those protesting a possible war in Iraq are protesting for various reasons. One of their major concerns is the possible war-related death of innocent Iraqi civilians. Fair enough, but if the deaths of Iraqi civilians is their concern, then why are they not concerned about the deaths of thousands of Iraqi citizens at the hands of Saddam Hussein?

Whether or not we go to war, innocent Iraqis are going to suffer. Saddam's regime has raped, tortured, imprisoned and murdered thousands of Iraqi civilians. At least by going to war, we can liberate the Iraqi people and stop future suffering by Iraqi civilians - something that the war protesters claim to be concerned with.

John P. Carlin, Kettering

U.S. needs liberation from Bush economy

If the president is so anxious to liberate someone from cruelty, he need look no further than this country. We need to be liberated from a full-scale recession that has been in place since he became president. We need to be liberated from spiraling job losses, unemployment at its highest in many years and out-of-control health-care costs, just to name a few.

The focus of war is not lost on those of us who can see that this is just a ruse so we won't focus on the real problem - no agenda for the homeland. The level of financial assistance to Turkey in order to deploy troops from that country would go a long way in providing liberty and freedom for America.

Carol-Ann Coleman, Walnut Hills

Stand up for country and those who fight

I say shame to those one-world fools who would have the United States subservient to the United Nations; to those cowards who blanch at the thought of taking up arms for their country; to those ingrates who are willing to take but never give; to those faint of heart who fail our president at a time when unity of our citizenry is paramount to his credence as our national spokesperson; also to those who, for some convoluted reasoning, do not stand up for our country and our military forces in their time of trial.

In contrast to the foregoing, those who have worn the uniforms of our nation's armed forces remain proud and privileged to have served our country. We and our families salute and continue to honor and fully support those who now stand ready to defend the national interests of our country, the greatest country on Earth.

Robert L. Headlee, Groesbeck

If Iraq is so weak, how is it a threat?

Regarding "10 Questions on a War with Iraq" (Feb. 23) in the Forum section, I find a confusing contradiction. One response to question No. 3, "How many soldiers may die?" is "Iraq's military is depleted, and even its chemical and biological weapons are so limited in usefulness and flexibility that `they do not constrain U.S. freedom of action.'" If Saddam will be so easily overcome, how is he the gigantic threat to our freedom President Bush claims him to be?

Laura Webb, Springdale