To the Editor:
As the mid-term election draws near, the hurling of political insults, from both sides, becomes erratic. But one thing stays true; both parties are maneuvering themselves politically to be in a position of power, to keep their constituents happy, and to keep their jobs.

Most of what the public hears is the headlined snippets that the private media feels is the most important. The importance the media puts to a story may even have political roots, for the owner of the news agency is, after all, a man/woman trying to run a business.

The latest example of this is the buzz around the Connecticut primary. The anti-war Democrat Ned Lamont defeats pro-war Democrat Joe Lieberman, what do you hear from the other side of the aisle? Dick Cheney says that the Connecticut voters are supporting Al Qaeda--playing the card of fear.

We bring our technological war machine the best in the world to Afghanistan to defeat "terrorism." Then war spreads to Iraq by false claims of weapons of mass destruction prompting leaks from the highest level of government to discredit Joe Wilson and his wife who were questioning the truth behind the WMD claims.

No WMD’s were found in Iraq, Osama Bin Laden is still the head of Al Qaeda, Iraq is the closest it can be to civil war without labeling it as one. War has broken out between Israel and Hezbollah, and underground groups like Hezbollah and Al Qaeda are gaining strength with every civilian and friend killed around them. Are we truly safer at home because we are out and about fighting war around the world?

Katrina showed us that we are not truly safe at home and the response from the Republican government was poorly organized, weak, and slow.

We can no longer be the authoritative policemen of the world if there is to be peace in the Middle East.
--Matt Fossum
Madison, WI 53703