No just war.

I take exception to Ray Miller of Rio Frio, Texas, in his letter to the editor regarding the "just war" with Iraq (May 14, 2007 issue). Though I am not completely satisfied with your magazine's view on this matter, I do take exception to Mr. Miller's remarks.

The war in Iraq is not a just war based on the following reasons. First of all, the evidence was shaky or nonexistent in the first place regarding Saddam's WMDs. Both Republicans and Democrats used this so-called "intelligence" for their own personal political gain whenever it suited them. Moreover, even if he did have these weapons, were they indeed a threat to the United States? Other nations that have WMDs are not friends of the United States, such as Russia, China, North Korea, and Cuba--how come we haven't invaded them?

Secondly, Saddam was a bad guy and a tyrant, but he was no better or worse than any of the other tin-pot dictators who rule other countries around the world. Despite all the "intelligence," it seems that he had absolutely no ties to al-Qaeda. In fact, he may actually have been a thorn in their side. He may have rejoiced watching the Twin Towers fall, like many other world leaders, but he was no ally of al-Qaeda.

Thirdly, it seems the only real winner in this "just war" is Iran, which no longer has to worry about Saddam, its one-time bitter enemy. It seems that the "democratic" government we installed is very Iran-friendly, and even if we ever do finally leave Iraq, it won't be very long before these two countries cozy up to each other, and we have a stronger united enemy that is a real and worse threat to the United States, even more determined than ever to get the "Great Satan."

Fourthly, all the propaganda aside, the one and only reason we went to war with Iraq was, and is, to enforce and empower UN sanctions and agreements that would mean absolutely nothing without the U.S. muscle to back them up!

Just war? If this were a "just war," President Bush should have made his case that Iraq was harboring agents of al-Qaeda or even Osama bin Laden himself! He should have shown evidence of Iraq's direct ties with the plot to attack this country, not go on about UN sanctions and heretofore undiscovered WMDs (if there ever were any--it seems now it is not a matter of fact, but faith) and called upon Congress, like FDR did after Pearl Harbor, to declare war on Iraq!

Congress and the Senate all shed "crocodile tears" over "Bush's War," but the truth is Bush would have been stopped dead in his tracks if Congress (the most powerful of the three branches of government) had not abdicated its constitutional authority. This is the main reason why we can't call this war a "just war." It is not constitutional! Just war? Surely, Mr. Miller, you jest.

ROBERT SUTTILE

Brooklyn, New York