Mr. Broder's commentary from Nov. 17 references a former secretary of defense and the reason we are fighting in Afghanistan. That reason being "the Taliban rulers welcoming the al-Qaida plotters who hatched the destruction of 9/11."

How ironic to mention Mr. Clifford, a former Wall Street attorney, who took over for Mr. McNamara as Secretary of Defense in the Johnson administration during the Second Indochina War.

Does anyone see the parallels between our current military endeavors and the wars in Southeast Asia? The Obama administration is simply following the course of action which the military/industrial corporatocracy set forth decades ago to ensure profits. War used to be an extension of politics. Today, war and politics are an extension of business. If your investments are in General Dynamics, McDonnell Douglas, Raytheon or Haliburton, your returns can be substantial. If your investment happens to be a daughter, wife, father or son, there can be a significant down side.

Wars are meant to be fought, period. Winning or losing does not matter, it is simply the cost of doing business.

Rob Jessen

Elgin