If there is something history should have taught us it is that a nation which overextends its foreign agenda through military presence and ignores the economic needs of its citizens, will fail. The USSR is a recent example of this debilitating policy.

Another lesson history has provided, is that a perverted mission is an eventual threat to the world. Al-Qaida is a current example of this fanatic mentality.

Heeding the lessons of past history, the current terrorist threats to our country must be eradicated. Presently, our efforts have the support and assistance of many nations.

However, in addition to our present armed deployment throughout the world, it is now the intention of our government leaders, alone if repudiated, to invade Iraq.

We should not expand our military actions without the tangible cooperation of other nations. The allied coalition of World War II is a good example of how to bring an end to an evil dictatorship.

Together, with other nations, we should initiate an offensive to dispose of Saddam. If we go it alone, it will be to the detriment of our domestic needs and general welfare of our citizens. In my opinion, an economic collapse of our financial systems will bring forth a worldwide depression, far worse than the threat that Iraq presently exhibits.

Anthony Mignone