Eddie Konczal, Published in Bergen Record on Aug. 30, 2005

The philosophy espoused by the writer of "War protests should aim at terrorists" (Your Views, Aug. 30) can be summarized in three words: Might makes right. He does not allow for the possibility that the United States could become involved in an unjust war - which is precisely what occurred in Vietnam and is now occurring in Iraq.

I fail to see the logic in the claim that anti-war protesters are responsible for prolonging wars. Rather, we can blame irrational foreign policy, faulty intelligence and a lack of preparation for the quagmires that Vietnam became and Iraq has become. By failing to develop an exit strategy for Iraq, the Bush administration - and not the anti-war movement - is to blame for the continued loss of life of American troops.

Loving your country means recognizing when injustices occur and speaking out against them. Condoning an unjust war represents ignorance and indifference, not patriotism.