HOW CAN WE BE SO BLIND TO THE FOLLY OF OUR LEADERS?

President Bush has approved the resumption of "Airbridge Denial," an
American-sponsored military operation in Colombia that would shoot down
airplanes suspected of ferrying drugs or drug profits. This program had been
suspended in 2001 after a private plane carrying American Christian
missionaries was forced down over South America, killing a woman and her infant
and injuring her husband and son. Such action is an offensive attack against
civilian pilots posing no imminent threat to the United States. Execution of
civilians "suspected" of ferrying drugs or drug profits is in violation of
human decency, if not the U.S. Constitution. Congress has not declared war on
Colombia. There is no justification for shooting down a plane aside from
self-defense.

Why can't the United States be a leader in ending armed conflict? Are our
leaders so uninspired that every challenge must be met with military
aggression? Are our resources that limited? How can the administration's "Road
Map for Peace" ever be taken seriously, when it shows such little understanding
of peace? President Bush said Aug. 14, in an interview with Armed Forces Radio:
"And the best way to secure the homeland is to get the enemy before he gets us.
At least that's my attitude." Does no one in power see the folly of this
attitude?

We must exercise our liberty to demand an end to U.S.-sponsored aggression.
Tell the administration to stop this madness. It's up to the people to be the
champions of justice, especially when government authorities flout our nation's
principles of law and justice.

Lynda B. Baker

Bellingham