Grant equal time for Scheurer

The article about the race for the Democratic nomination in the 8th district did not give equal time to the challenger. Fifteen lines (159 words) were devoted to the incumbents' views and just eight lines, 103 words for the challenger. Perhaps Randi Scheurer would like to have the same number of lines to explain her reasons for supporting a complete and speedy withdrawal from Iraq. Since the paper missed that, I will try to fill the readers in on the case for getting out now.

Melissa Bean states we need to stay in Iraq to fight the terrorists. Great. How can our troops know who the "terrorists" are and who are just Iraqi Shia or Sunni religious sects fighting a civil war?

In fact, by our occupation of Iraq we are creating more "terrorists." The Iraqi people don't want al-Qaida or the U.S. in their country. Before we "liberated" Iraq and opened it up for opportunists, there were no al-Qaida in Iraq. As soon as we leave, the Iraqis can concentrate on ridding themselves of the al-Qaida terrorists the U.S. opened the door for. We are an obstacle to the country standing up for themselves.

The real reason to prolong the war in Iraq is to make more money for Blackwater, Halliburton, Chevron and Exxon with taxpayer dollars, and in turn more corporate campaign contributions to the Bush-Cheney cabal of cowards. They are robbing the people to line their pockets with blood money and stay in power.

I would rather see my taxes be used to take care of the troops at home right now before more troops are killed or maimed. U.S. out of Iraq now!

Jean Paskalides

Island Lake