The two main reasons the administration gave for a pre-emptive attack on Iraq were: that it was stockpiling weapons of mass destruction that it could use against its neighbors, and to free the people of the country from the rule of a brutal dictator. We would be greeted as a liberator.

First we found that there were no weapons of mass destruction. Now the president is saying he is reluctant to turn over Saddam Hussein to them unless the Iraqis can assure him that they will not let him loose for fear that, perish the thought, he might return to power. So what did our over 800 dead and more than 4,000 wounded service men and women suffer and die for? It might be ironic if it were not so terribly tragic. How could we have gone so horribly wrong?

Joseph F. Johnson
Hyde Park

Mall threat shows terrorism real

I will start by saying that I adamantly support the war on terror. It's easy for me to know which presidential candidate is going to look out for my family and I during this troubled time. Consequently, it is difficult for me to understand those who don't support it, let alone those who choose to pretend its fluff and not that big a deal.

Maybe this recent discovery of a plot to blow up a shopping mall will wake up the mothers and the 20-somethings in this country to the realization that evil exists in the world and ignoring it will not make it go away. We should not be bullied into canceling a trip to California because terrorists blew up planes. Equally, we should not be afraid to go to the shopping mall to hang out or shop either. But that is exactly what their goal is - to terrorize. Don't become so numb during this political year that you refuse to see what is going on. Terrorism is real.

Teresa Stemann
Pleasant Ridge

Hamilton County complied with audits

The Enquirer's public records audit articles "It's your right to know," published Sunday, gives the impression that the auditor made six requests of Hamilton County government, when, in reality, she made six requests of governments located within the geographic boundaries of Hamilton County.

We are pleased, of course, that Hamilton County (the governmental unit) promptly and successfully responded to the request. And, by the way, the board of commissioners' meeting minutes are available on our website (www.hamilton-co.org).

Peter Hames
Senior Executive Assistant County Administrator

Reagan also toured GE downtown

In regard to Ruth A. Jones' article on June 11 about her husband's experience showing former President Ronald Regan around the Evendale Plant, I'd like to add that my husband, John M. Popp, had the pleasure of escorting him through the G.E. office on Plum Street in downtown Cincinnati. The office is no longer there today.

Reagan was an outstanding actor at that time and was doing public relations work for G.E. I understand that he visited every one of GE's 139 plants and enjoyed every minute of it.

My husband died in January this year, but being with Ronald Regan was always a highlight in his career. One other highlight was learning that he had unknowingly been working at times in the 1940's on the Manhattan Project, which, of course, was a highly secretive operation.

Hazel E. Popp
Fort Thomas

War protesters can learn from students

The June 3 article "Students inspired by war, service" should remove a lot of doubt and concern about the youth in our great country. Why do we hear so much about the youth in trouble and causing problems and not more about the Rebecca Helton's and Daniel Brewer's mentioned in the June 3 article?

Those railing against the war in Iraq could learn a lesson from these young people. No sane person wants war but it's like the old schoolyard bully where every once in a while someone needs the guts to stand up and smack him in the mouth. On 911, in just a few hours on our soil, we lost 3,000 American lives. In the last year plus, on their soil, we've lost about 800. While just one loss is one too many, what does logic and common sense tell you about where this battle should be fought?

Jack Sinkking
Batavia

Abortion ruling disrespects laws

Applause to the letter "Amend Constitution to protect unborn" (June 12) which appeared in regarding Judge Phyllis Hamilton's pompous decision.

The tragedy is not only that some judges have no respect for laws American's have already voted to enact; it is that they ignore their role of interpreting laws and believe it to be creating new laws as suits their whims.

I would hope adding what should be an unnecessary amendment to the Constitution would prevent judges from taking the law into their own hands; but if they ignore current laws, I see no reason they would not find a way around constitutional amendments.

Charles D. Back
Maineville