Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2001 21:16:32 -0700 (PDT)
From: Frank Brown <frog@inwa.net>
To: opinion@seattletimes.com
Subject: letter to the editor

Editor:

While the US needs to apprehend the instigators of September 11's attack, I'm
afraid President Bush's plan as he explained it tonight far exceeds the
necessary and appropriate response.  In Seattle terms, he seems to be
pulling a Paul Schell, planning a massive crackdown on dissent similar to
our mayors response to the WTO protests.

President Bush fails to see that it is impossible to rid the earth of
terrorism, as it is an extreme reaction to the perception of injustice
and powerlessness.

How different is a "holy war" from a "war on terrorism"?  Both present
oversimplifications of world events in service of a geopolitical power
grab.

Every citizen wants our government to get the bad guys.  I hope I'm wrong,
but I'm afraid a worldwide long-term crackdown on dissent may end up
contributing to the very problem it is intended to combat.

Sincerely,
Frank Brown
frog@inwa.net
http://www.inwa.net/~frog