Bush's visit unwelcomed

I am Warren L. Henthorn, father of lost soldier Jeffrey S. Henthorn, lost in Iraq on Feb. 8, 2005.

I understand former President George W. Bush is coming to Woodward on the 4th of July. Should he be welcomed? No.

This president led our military forces into a war of choice, a war that should not have happened, a war that has cost the lives of more than 4,300 U.S. soldiers, more than 35,000 injured, some hurt for the rest of their lives, and countless thousands of Iraqi people killed and wounded.

Does anyone remember the Vietnam War? Another war of choice: 58,000 dead, countless lives ruined to this day. Should we celebrate President Bush's legacy? I think not.

If you think you have no involvement in this folly because you have no family members in this war, guess again. Where do you think our current economic problems came from? Ten billion dollars a month that you and your children will have to pay for sooner or later to support a war that should never have happened. Soldiers walking our streets with mental problems from the horrors they saw, wounded soldiers dependent for the rest of their lives on us. You and yours will be paying for this also.

It's time to think about the reality of Bush's time in office, the military and economic mess he got us into and hold him responsible for it.

Warren L. Henthorn
Choctaw, OK