Afghan war left uncompleted

To the editor:

I am saddened after reading Jo Ann Emerson's response to Robert Polack's letter.

While Polack is very specific in writing about the Iraq war, she claims that he has included Afghanistan in his concerns. Then she adds the loss of life through 9-11 on top of it.

As has been clarified on many occasions, there is no evidence of any link between Iraq under Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden, al-Qaida and the terrorist acts of 9-11.

To try to make that connection is disingenuous. Emerson's letter is yet another in a long chain of misrepresentations by Republican officials regarding the Iraq war.

There is clear evidence that the invasion in Iraq diverted resources from our uncompleted war in Afghanistan launched in response to the terrorist attack on American soil.

Elite forces that were attempting to capture bin Laden and other al-Qaida leaders were prematurely taken from the hunt so we could be the aggressors in an unprovoked attack on Iraq that was justified by exaggerations, misperceptions and lies. The trapped terrorists were able to then escape to Pakistan.

Our war on Iraq not only had nothing to do with 9-11, it continues to interfere with our response to terrorism.

Troops are spending their own money to purchase bulletproof jackets because they are under-equipped. Veterans' benefits are underfunded. Emerson should spend less time attacking dissenting constituents and more time actually doing something to support the troops.

PAUL ZMOLEK

Cape Girardeau