Constitution does not make us the world's policeman

Dear editor:

Jim Ward's "history lesson" might sound OK on paper, but not the paper our country was founded upon.

Our Constitution, that ageless parchment that nobody ever reads, does NOT designate the United States to be the "world's policeman."

George Washington himself, warned us NOT to get involved in foreign affairs, yet, over the past six decades, our government has developed a nasty habit of allowing the U.N. to lead us into chaotic situations that don't concern us.

World War II was fully justified, via Pearl Harbor. America pulled together, we won it and our veterans came home to a hero's welcome, as well they should have.

Korea however, was THEIR feud, not ours. Vietnam was THEIR feud, not ours. Going after Bin Laden for 911 was the right thing to do, until King George diverted us into Iraq to resume his dad's farce.

I don't care what Truman said, or Ike said or LBJ said. We had no business getting involved in those skirmishes to begin with. We died for the South Koreans. We died for the South Vietnamese, and we're dying everyday for Iraqis who don't even want us over there anymore, while Bin Laden and his boys continue to run free. It's not for us, Mr. Ward, and it hasn't been since the surrender in Tokyo Bay.

I fought in Vietnam from the trenches at Khe Sanh to the rice paddies of Dong Ha and Guang Tri. I've been hit by an AK-47 and laced with Agent Orange. Swamp, leeches, deprivation and a villain's welcome when we got home. 58,000 names on a long black wall. For nothing.

Combat sucks, pal. If we're going to put our troops in harm's way, let it be on OUR borders. THEN it will be for America.