It greatly shocks and saddens me that anyone could truly express a belief that the United States entered World War II simply in order to benefit our country ("U.S. has always entered war for its own benefit," April 1 letter). If the attack on Pearl Harbor where approximately 3,000 American lives were lost due to a cowardly and surprise attack when our country was not at war does not represent enough of a reason to enter the war and defend our freedom and safety then I do not know what does.

The author makes a point that America chose to support England whenever we entered the war "simply because of self-interest." I then ask: Are you suggesting that the United States should have sided with the Germans or the Japanese who had just attacked our nation? Today, in the aftermath of Sept. 11, with the extreme threat of more terrorist attacks looming over our heads, it disgusts me that people can vocally oppose and protest the protection of our country and the lives of those within it.

So perhaps, it is the truth, the United States is entering this war with Iraq "simply because of self-interest." If the interest that you speak of is the protection of our country and the lives of the innocent civilians within our country, then yes, I do believe that the United States is going to war for our own, your own, self-interests; namely, our lives.