During the Democratic debate on Wednesday, April 16, Which was very poorly run, Charles Gibson of ABC News raised the question of wearing the flag as a symbol of patriotism. It was put to Senator Barack Obama.

The tragedy of 9/11 was followed by the war in Iraq, amid a frenzy of flying flags and printed signs on SUVs telling us to “support our troops.” Support for the war was overwhelming. It left little room for calm and clear thinking. As a result, the war was a total disaster from the start. How was it foisted on a lrgely uncomprehending, pleasure-seeking people?

In the weeks and days before the war, Israeli Prime Minster Ariel Sharon met freQuently with President Bush, who also invited Sharon to a cookout at the Bush family ranch in Crawford, Texas. At the same time, President Bush had no time to spare for Saddam Hussein, the president of Iraq, who wanted to prevent the war. As a last resort, during an interview with Dan Rather in Baghdad—with the threat of war fast approaching—Saddam Hussein proposed a televised debate with President Bush on the need for going to war. Request ignored. Iraq war on!

The war would destroy the “Cradle of Civilization,” home to 35 million mostly peaceful people who had nothing to do with 9/11. By going to war, we wrecked a country that, said Chief UN Arms Inspector Hans Blix, “was much better off under Saddam Hussein” than it was subsequent to the war. We also wrecked our own beloved country and made life more difficult for ourselves. Worst of all, this cooked-up war killed more than 4,000 young American men and women in uniform. More than 30,000 wounded, many of them crippled for life. Their suffering and the suffering of their loved ones lives on.

This happened in a land of 300 million people? Incredible! Do we not care enough to protect—and wrest—control of our country from a shadow government? Tool of this other country based in the US capital, known as the Israeli lobby?

Israel’s policy’s have wrecked their own country, as documented in a scathing indictment delivered by four former Israeli security chiefs, who were responsible for containing Arab terrorism. When I served in Palestine after VE Day in May 1945, the terrorists were Jews fighting for the creation of Israel. There are many such parallels in history.

And so now does Israel think it’s America’s turn for subjugation? Hell no. We the people will not let it happen.

This is why it’s so important that President Jimmy Carter’s lonely and heroic effort to foster peace between Israel and the Palestinians be praised rather than reviled.

If we don’t stop the control exercised over our government by our strategically placed and formidable ally in the Middle East—whom America installed in May 1948—what’s going to happen to our children and grandchildren? What about the place we call home?

Terence S. Underwood

Tonawanda