Letter to the editor

Dear Editor,

In response to the letter written by Michael Farley: I do not support the Islamic militant groups our government has termed "terrorists," but it is inappropriate to call them cowards.
They are religious fanatics.

Their regime was oppressive and perpetrated unspeakable acts upon the Afghani population. Regardless, it is unfair to call their tactics cowardly without calling our military's tactics the same.

You call it cowardice when terrorists hide in desert bunkers, but what do you call it when our troops hide inside multi-million dollar bases?

If terrorists are "unseen, cowardly enemies who play the game of war from hidden bunkers and unreachable rooftops," what do you call our troops sitting in padded chairs, literally playing the game of war by controlling an unmanned bombing drone with a joystick?

We are the "schoolyard bully throwing rocks from the safety of a high tree branch."

You label their leaders cowards because they send audiotapes from "some bunker buried in the desert." Meanwhile, our oh-so-brave leaders make speeches from a different continent, where they are protected from the terrorist "threat" by the world's most powerful military.

At least their leaders reside on the same continent as the conflict.

If Taliban did come out of their caves and say, "Here we are, come get us," no bravery would be shown in a firefight.

A missile launched from an unseen location would blow them away like ants. Taliban propaganda is 40 virgins in heaven. Commercials depicting Marines slaying evil dragons are propoganda.

 "They think that if they can just keep attacking us – while hiding themselves from any repercussions – eventually we'll just pack up and go home." It is clear, however, that the terrorists, along with civilian populations, often suffer the repercussions of their attacks and take casualties.

Unfortunately, the insurgency is strong outside and inside of Afghanistan. Attacks against U.S. forces will continue unless we either make creative, intelligent and drastic strategy changes, or pack up and go home as others have before. 

As Peter Ustinov said, "Terrorism is the war of the poor, and war is the terrorism of the rich."

Sincerely,
Jonathon Weber
UVM Freshman