Dear Senator _,

War is not a matter to be taken lightly. Saying that war is inherently wrong or immoral is probably naive. There may well come a time in the near future when the U.S. will be called upon to bring down Saddam Hussein, but that time is not now. President Bush's premature decision to go to war with Iraq benefits a tiny group of people while risking thousands of lives and endangering prospects for peace for the rest of the world.

Who benefits from this conflict aside from arms manufacturers and oil services firms? President Bush claims that he is defending the security of our country, but I seriously doubt that I or anyone else will feel or be any safer when American bombs fall on Iraq.

Lame accusations made by the White House administration against Hussein already undermine the President's credibility at home. By forging ahead without U.N. support, President Bush is essentially giving the finger to the rest of the world. Rather than strengthen homeland security, this overly aggressive action isolates the U.S. from its allies and invites retaliation from its enemies.

I believe that the majority of Americans oppose the current war effort. Lately, a sense of helplessness threatens to overcome us, but this is certainly not the time to back down. The best way to support American troops is to avoid putting them in an unwinnable position. To blindly follow the lead of the President under the guise of patriotism is simply foolishness.

Thank you for your time.