In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on London, it seems that the first response of the mainstream media and people like Mr. Pontrelli is to blame the United States and United Kingdom for the terrorist attacks ("London bombings should serve as a mirror to Iraq," July 8). After all, if we weren't in Iraq and Afghanistan the terrorists would all love us and just leave us alone, right? We weren't in a war with Iraq and Afghanistan before Sept. 11, 2001, so why did the terrorists even attack us in the first place?

Not once in his column did Mr. Pontrelli address the fact that the large amount of daily tragedy in Iraq is brought on by homicide bombers and insurgents, and not coalition forces.

Instead, Mr. Pontrelli and his ilk toe the al-Qaida line that U.S. soldiers are nothing but a bunch of thugs.

Yes, the Iraqi citizenry is facing a hard time, and there has been collateral damage from bombing and firefights between coalition forces and insurgents. But when you are dealing with cowards who hide among innocent civilians and use mosques as armories, there is no choice but to accept that collateral damage in pursuit of the enemy. There is much more damage from years of terror and neglect of basic services under Saddam Hussein's brutal regime than there ever will be as a result of military operations in a liberated Iraq.

We only have ourselves to blame for starting this war Mr. Pontrelli? Last time I checked it was the terrorists who attacked us. That we are now bringing the war to them is no one's fault but their own. There will be no precious time to enjoy unless all of the terrorists are eradicated. The only way to truly achieve peace is through victory. Anything else is nothing but appeasement that only emboldens our enemies.