While I appreciate your response to my previous e-mail, it seems that my main concerns go unaddressed. I am fully aware of the party line that continues to justify our continued occupation of Iraq. Am I and those millions of Americans who feel betrayed by both the Congress and White House, expected to accept the possibility that you and your peers are willing to write a blank check to "secure" Iraq? If the "facts" used to justify our invasion and occupation of a sovereign nation (against the will of the United Nations & most of the world community) was based upon fraudulent information, then tell me, why would continued financing of such an endeavor be any less distasteful or foolish than to continue investing in a business venture based on fraud? As I'm sure you are aware, this country continues to have federal laws that punish "bait and switch" tactics. If such laws (in theory) protect the easily misled in our society from being exploited by religious nutcases, why would the same protection not be available to keep those same victims from being exploited by ideological fanatics?

Both your response and the White House continue to paint a picture that is nothing short of simplistic. The fact of the matter is that this is not a matter of simply exchanging one form of government for another. This is a complex issue involving ideologies both religious and political (in too many cases fanatical) in most cases the two are one. If Saddam was the mad man our "chicken-hawks" claim he was, where was the will of the Iraqi people to put up the struggle that they continue to exhibit against their "liberators?" Perhaps what we are seeing says more about the Iraqi "people" than it says about Saddam! Whatever the case, why should our young men and woman be expected to sacrifice life, limbs & blood for those who (like all free people) should be responsible to fight for and secure their own freedom. Would having the empire of Japan invade and occupy our colonies to save us from England have been acceptable to you? It would not have been to me, what authority calls upon our children to be the world's liberators?

Iraq will continue to be at issue for months and possibly years and like Viet Nam, will make or break many a political career. Future generations will no doubt, look back and judge us by our response to the mess created by this White House and it's Congress. Will they see you as one who stood up? How harshly will history judge the fact that half of our sons & daughters in Iraq go without such basic items as modern body armor!!! Now, if I am aware of this fact, you are too. Has your voice been heard before Congress, have you stood before your country, your outrage clear for all to see? Have you done all that you can do to make sure that your name is never included as one who was responsible for allowing or tolerating such a disgraceful lack of support for our troops? Have you made certain that you will not be included with the cowards in Washington who found being "bothered" by telemarketers more of a priority that insuring that not another American life is lost due to the "will" of Congress (or lack thereof). The fact of the matter is that "sales" calls at dinner time has in fact taken priority over the safety of those who with their lives serve our nation, how sad.

In closing, my initial e-mail addressed my concern about the continued influx of peoples who violate our laws by coming across our borders. And so, business leaders and politicians who allow and reward such behavior aid those who break our laws. Those who exploit and in too many cases, are responsible for the deaths of those who pay to get across our borders too, find aid and acceptance from the same business leaders and politicians who allow this ugly charade to continue, where is the shame? What authority allows the government to pick and choose which laws it will enforce? Your responsibility is to the voters who put you in office, not those who break the very laws you have taken an oath to uphold. I will look forward to your "personal" reply to the issues I have raised.

Sincerely,

Ray Welsh

cc: Los Angeles Times Orange County Register

Ed: Views are those of individual authors and not necessarily those of Consumer Advocate Tim Duffy.