The Daily Collegian (Jan. 18) inaccurately reported events that took place at Pattee Jan. 17 when a gathering of anti-war protesters were interrupted by a group of war supporters. Let me tell you what I saw.

Walking past Willard Building on the way to class, I was stopped dead in my tracks by the echoes of an amplified voice. As I approached Pattee, I saw 100 or so people, mostly students, standing and listening to an older man assaulting them with the type of melodramatic rhetoric I would expect to hear in a 1960s movie.

Until I heard the man speak, I had maintained the belief that I would be the first to join the peace movement. However, the group on the steps of Pattee was not solely pro-peace. They were anti-reason and anti-American. I found myself becoming more and more disillusioned by the so-called peace efforts on campus.

No sooner had the man handed the microphone to a fellow protester, than I heard mumbling and whispering behind me. I turned to see three students quietly making their way through the crowd, the first wielding the American flag, the others carrying signs supporting our troops -- not the war -- in the Middle East. The older man, reclaiming the microphone, sparked a debate with the flag bearer. When he realized he could not stand up in a two-way debate founded on reason, he dismissed the counter-demonstrators.

I have two friends stationed in Saudi Arabia. And I am unsure of the location of many other military friends. The two I know are both Marines who will be on the front lines if and when ground combat occurs. When I saw those lone students and caught sight of our country's flag, I began to cry. I am relieved to know there are people like me who have adopted the most compassionate, yet realistic, position concerning the war. Support peace. But support our troops.

Realistically, it is too late to stop the war. It can only, through the accomplishment of the coalition's objectives, come to an end. If we pull out now or any time before we reach our objectives, the political and economic consequences for us and the Middle East balance of power will be grave. President Bush has made a decision. Congress gave him prior permission. I disagree with both Congress and the President's subsequent action. But the fact is that we cannot change what has already happened.

If we want our troops home safely and quickly, we cannot afford to be split in this country. Hussein will perceive dissent as a national weakness. Our soldiers will see diminishing support and growing contempt for the military action. How well will they be able to perform their military duties -- essential to bringing about the end of the war? Don't they have enough to worry about? Unfortunately, our only hope for peace now is to continue to strive for the objectives as stated by the United Nations and allied forces to end the war. There is no turning back now.

I am not asking you to support Bush. I am not asking you to condone the act of war or the killing of other human beings. I don't. All I ask is that you adopt the only attitude that will bring our troops home safely. Support them. I do.