To the Editor:

John McCain, who has continually supported the war in Iraq, believes because of the surge we need to continue an opened-ended commitment that could last 100 years. He promises victory and a strong democratic government there.

Shiite and Sunni tribes still engage in attacks with each other, as they have for years. Look at the cost of thousand of lives of American soldiers and thousands more wounded. The wounded are unable to get the help needed because of our economy.

The national debt is and will continue to affect all of us and Iraq is the reason we have gone from a surplus to a debt of trillions of dollars, a billion in interest a month is being paid to countries like China.

Some facts we all need to be aware of:

1. This is the first time in American history we have borrowed money to carry on a war.

2. Bush said the war would be paid for from revenues from the oil in Iraq. The Iraqi government just gave the oil contract to China.

3. We are still paying billions of dollars to support the Iraqi Army and help build the infrastructure of their country. They will end this year with a surplus of $79 billion.

The second most important issue the new president will face is the real war on terrorism. The war on the Afghan/Pakistan border is the new haven for Al-Qaeda and radical jihadis.

Adm. Michael Mullen, the nation’s highest ranking military officer has said it is most likely that the next attack on the U.S. will come from there as did on 9/11. It was announced recently that the situation there is worse than it was just after that attack.

We are unable to provide substantial forces because of the forces we are sending to Iraq, and we will face a real challenge to pay for needed supplies because of the expenses we face to continue to stay in Iraq.

Tobey Edwards

Courtland