Two weeks ago, Eliot Walker made a superb case why not to go to war with Iraq ("It's time to re-evaluate Bush's 'Axis of Evil,'" Sept. 20 column). It's opening up. We've won unconditional weapons inspections, except for dozens of Saddam's palaces. Yes, it's true, the United Arab Emirates ambassador to England (who delivered the letter agreeing to inspections) says inspectors can re-enter Iraq but only check sites OK with Saddam. These are our unconditional weapons inspections. It doesn't seem so unconditional to me.

Personally, I don't think weapons inspections violations are a good reason to go to war with Iraq. They're merely another reason. Saddam is violating the peace treaty he signed at the end of the Persian Gulf War.

Have we forgotten who won that war? Our "vanquished" foe holds a U.S. serviceman prisoner, Kuwaiti citizens captive and his own people hostage. A brave man went to war for my country, and I think it's time someone went and got him.

Many people fear that a war, now, would cost thousands of American lives. The same was said prior to the war in Afghanistan and the last Gulf War. American casualties in both conflicts were relatively small.

Consider how many Americans will die when we have to fight Saddam years down the road, when he has nuclear weapons, and even larger stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons. Have some faith in the bravest, best trained and most advanced armed forces in the world -- the U.S.A.'s. If allowed to do their job unrestricted and properly supported, they will win the day.