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Dear UTDem
Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns regarding the global war on terrorism and the current situation in Iraq. It was good to hear from you.
As you know, the war on terror brought on by the shocking attacks of September 11, 2001, began with the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. Efforts to fight terror were expanded in 2003 to focus on the threat imposed by Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq.
Despite the many difficulties we have encountered in Iraq, I believe the world, and the Iraqi people, are better off without Saddam Hussein. The mass graves that have been uncovered have shed light on the murderous tyranny Saddam used to maintain his control over the Iraqi people, right up until the last days of his reign. Ousting Saddam Hussein prevented thousands more from losing their loved ones to Saddam's sadistic quest to enhance his own power.
The successful elections held in Iraq on January 30 have provided a great deal of hope. The Iraqis must now concentrate on drafting their own constitution. These are steps towards a radical transformation of Iraq, and perhaps the entire Middle East, offering a better chance for real peace and democracy than we have seen in generations. In President Bush's recent State of the Union speech, he called for an end to tyranny and the spread of democracy throughout the world. I support the President, and sincerely believe that the only way to realize this is to show our support for Iraq's quest for democracy by maintaining military support until Iraq has reached a sufficient level of political stability.
Although we may not agree on this issue, I sincerely appreciate your taking the time to communicate your views. I hope you will feel free to do so again soon.
Warmest regards, Chris Cannon
Member of Congress
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