Letter writer wrong on issues of war

After reading Barbara Zaha's recent letter, I simply must recommend that she contact the organization Code Pink. She could do a heckuva job as one of their publicists.

I've often wondered why folks like Barb can so easily recognize a lie spoken by President Bush, but is simultaneously oblivious to lies spoken by any number of people around the world who don't blink an eye as they brutally murder innocent men, women and children by the thousands, regardless of their nation of origin.

Barb is obviously upset with the goings-on at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo, but I've not heard her say a word about what happened to Nick Berg, et. al. What crime did he commit that warranted his punishment? And wasn't it nice how they videotaped it for the world to see? Clearly, this was in compliance with the Geneva Conventions, right?

Wait a minute: America also "... arbitrarily assigns the status of a 'rogue nation' or 'enemy combatant'" Arbitrarily? Tell me, Barb, what would you call an individual wearing no country's uniform who is captured in a firefight with our troops? A "physical antagonist?" And how about a nation like North Korea that tests a nuclear-capable missile by launching it toward the area around Hawaii, but because of their lack of engineering expertise loses it in or near Japanese coastal waters? Wanna consider them a "most favored nation?"

The bottom line is this, Barb: If more Americans had been standing up for the ideals upon which this nation was originally founded, we wouldn't be in this predicament. We've suffered plenty of attacks by these "rogue nations" and "enemy combatants" for decades now. Whose fault is it that we sat on our collective thumbs until we were forced into action by the events of Sept. 11, 2001?

John Babush

Big Rock