It is springtime in the year 2002.

The U.S. troops in Afghanistan have nearly concluded the first part of their mission, the disruption and destruction of the Taliban and the Al-Qaeda network of terrorists in the region.

President George W. Bush has declared a war on terrorism, citing an "Axis of Evil" which is comprised of disparate countries (Iran, North Korea, Iraq) without any common characteristic save their distrust of the United States. In the course of prosecuting a war which he claims might require fifty years, the President and his Attorney General have dramatically expanded the security and surveillance powers of the Executive branch through passage of the USA PATRIOT act. Nuclear weapons policy has been overhauled to permit a proliferation of smaller nuclear weapons.

This combination of expanded, unilateral aggression of the United States in foreign and military policy, combined with expanded domestic surveillance and investigation powers, does not bode well for human rights, either at home or abroad. The "War on Terrorism," without a narrow focus and without Congressional oversight, can easily turn into "Operation Endless War."

I hope that our national leaders will reconsider our present course and return to the calm deliberative policies of tolerance, rationalism and compassion, recognizing the rights of Americans and all others to live peaceably together, without the use of military and police power.

--Richard Garrard