I have known Clay Miller for five years, having worked with him professionally, and consider him a friend. But I cannot agree with his views on politics and especially his view on war. The message I got from his Soundoff column (News-Times, June 23, “A Lesson on Freedom From Vietnam”) is that everyone should be living in a free democratic society regardless of the costs, and that it is okay for the United States to act as a world policeman and policy maker.

I would like for him to consider that people in other countries need to make their own choices as to whether or not they want to live under communism or any other type of political oppression. It is not to our best interest to spend billions of dollars imposing our will on the rest of the world when we have so many problems that need to be addressed in our own country, not to mention the loss of American lives.

After South Vietnam fell, I don’t recall having to fight the Vietnamese communists on the shores of California, or for that matter, on the shores of Whidbey Island. The same can be said about the various terrorist groups in Iraq. What does he fear if we withdraw? Shouldn’t people who live in countries where terrorists and political oppression occur decide for themselves how to live?

RAY RASMUSSEN

Oak Harbor