Many Americans agree with Basil Debnekoff (Letters, July 3) that the Iraq War was a mistake, but most who share his view are wise enough to accept a simple fact. Once your country puts our military in harm’s way to achieve an objective deemed, by our elected government, to be vital to the interests of the U.S., then agree or not, most Americans realize that we must support our forces and our government to see that their mission is completely successfully.

The Saddam loyalists and Al-Qaida supporters know that there are many Americans who can be influenced by showing captives and bodies on TV.  They hope people like you, Mr. Debnekoff, will help them inadvertently by demanding that we quit our mission before its finished. Few in this country are not aware of the disastrous consequences of such a course.

I don’t believe your views make you un-American, Mr. Debnekoff, only a misguided American with tunnel vision. Of course, men and women are dying in Iraq and every American is saddened just as they were in other wars. Perspective is what all of us need now.

During the 15 months of hostilities in Iraq, twice as many people were murdered in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. Should we abandon these cities? 2.4 million suffer severe burns in our kitchens. Should we eat our meals out? Nine hundred bicyclists were killed and 580,000 seen in emergency rooms. Shall we outlaw bicycles?106,000 patients die in our hospitals each year from adverse reactions to prescription drugs; and these under medical supervision. That’s 290 deaths per day, day in, day out. Where is the hue and cry over these? These tragic statistics occur no matter which party is in power and contribute nothing to peace.

Mr. Debnekoff, I hope you can expand your vision to take a hard look at the dangerous world we live in. Thousands of our men and women have died so we Americans can debate the issues and speak our minds.Those who died for us deserve no less than our support for those in harm’s way today.

E.M. Potter

Oak Harbor