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Hernando Today

Article 'Ignored' Nothing; It's All There In Black And White

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 15, 2008

Re: "Doing the right thing," by Serena Seifried in the May 13 edition of Hernando Today.

Your letter opens with, "Mr. Hood, conveniently forgets ..." I clearly acknowledged the "barbaric methods" that Saddam Hussein used to maintain order. Additionally, you write that, "The Iraqi people suffered atrocities that Americans ... could never begin to imagine." You missed yet another of my statements, "Hussein maintained order ... by means horrific to the West." Apparently, you do not know that the United States is the West.

Furthermore, I stated, Saddam could account for every drop of oil. He could and did. And you are mistaken if you think Saddam shared or "trusted" anyone with anything, much less oil! And that fact eliminates, by definition, any possibility of entertaining "cronies." Saddam had no friends. Also, in case you haven't noticed, the Iraqi-parliament members have gotten very heavy, and their old suits of bargain wool are now made of fine wools and Italian silks. And the Iraqi oil that was supposed to have funded this war is pouring into the black market. Moreover, the new elected leader of the Oil Ministry was in office only two weeks before the Oil Ministry's records hall was burned down - inexplicably. Now, Iraq claims that have no way to account for any of Iraq's oil. And the U.S. is now stuck with the entire bill.

My article has "ignored" nothing nor has it "forgotten" anything you have accused. It's all in there.

Separation of church and state, as you highlight, is a concept of the "West" - that's us, the United States. Iraq has nearly a 5,000-year history compared to our 220 plus years. Descent has, historically, always been quashed by brutality in the Middle East. And I am frightfully aware of the crimes committed by Saddam and his sons, of whom you did not mention. My point, missed by you, is the Middle East is worse now than before the war and the after effects have reverberated throughout the world - now and for years to come. Whatever the means, Saddam maintained control, order and kept checks and balances on both Iran and Saudi Arabia, whose citizens comprised the group of 9/11 terrorists. And after his death, the same barbarism is used daily by others attempting to gain control of Iraq.

So "scratch your head" and be "befuddled," but do not assume me to be a Democrat, which makes you one of 27 percent of people who believe G.W. Bush is doing a good job. Squeamish of the death penalty? Again, you've assumed incorrectly. I openly support the death penalty. And for "the cheers of Iraqis" after Saddam's demise. As I recall, the U.S. was speechless that many Iraqis demonstrated against his execution and openly wished Saddam would regain his leadership - just as the people of Afghanistan wish the Taliban was again in control.

So before you go frantically pointing at Democrats, be sure you know they are and have at least one thing good to say about the accomplishments of Bush's administration.

Garrett Hood

Spring Hill

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