"America is the catalyst for peace"

-- George Bush

I was deeply upset after reading "Wearing a yellow ribbon should not dictate politics" in the March 15 Collegian. I feel that the role of our troops was wrongly portrayed, and that the unfortunate aspects of the conflict should not remove one's faith for the cause.

The column says the troops deserve our thanks and honor, however, "They have done a dirty job for all of us -- protecting our (cheap) oil." Yes, oil was a reason why we were over there. However, let's not overlook the other, more important reasons.

First of all Saddam Hussein wrongly took over Kuwait. If we had not sent our troops there, Saudi Arabia might have suffered the same consequences, as Saddam had planned. Kuwait desperately needed us, and as it was approved by the United Nations, we extended our help. In Newsweek a letter was printed, written by a soldier before his death. It said, "If I should die, I would not think that it is for one drop of oil, but for all the children of Kuwait, who could not help themselves."

I am aware that the bombing of Iraq did account for many civilian casualties. This was very unfortunate. However, I don't think that this was an atrocity committed by the United States, but rather Saddam Hussein. We must also think of all the innocent people who were saved by the actions we took.

Now the citizens of Iraq are suffering. They are victims of their government's aggressive and destructive behavior. Like the people of Kuwait, they are asking for our help. If it were up to me, I'd send the troops into Iraq to free them from their living hell.

Although war is unfortunate and ugly, it can be honorable when its function is to bring about peacefulnes. We should be thankful that Saddam Hussein's military power and chances of aggressively engaging his neighbors have been diminished.

I believe the government, with the support of the United Nations, justly participated in the war. So you can keep on waving those flags, and you can keep on chanting, "U.S.A., U.S.A.," but most importantly, proudly display those yellow ribbons until they all come home.