I applaud Walter Marchewka Jr. for his service in the military and for taking the time to write a letter ("Current war we're waging justified," Nov. 1) in opposition to the work that John Amidon and I and many others have been doing for peace.
However, he has got it entirely wrong if he thinks the Taliban or al-Qaida would be happy with our work. They don't want peace; they want recruits for more war.
U.S. policies hand them these recruits. I saw this firsthand in Pakistan. We interviewed a number of people who had family members killed by our drones. More than a couple said that if they had the chance they would do whatever necessary to get back at the people who did this to their family members.
This is how terrorism is born. They asked us over and over again why the U.S. feels it has the right to go into a country that it is not even at war with, like Pakistan, and kill whoever it wants without a trial or even any proof that they are combatants. There is much anger and hatred toward the U.S. in Pakistan.
Our trip showed many that not all Americans support what our government is doing. This gave many a perspective that they did not have before and probably did more to undercut the terrorists than the U.S. military has done with all its drones and bombs.
While I applaud Mr. Marchewka for his service, I'm not sure I hold the same regard for drone pilots. There is nothing heroic about sitting behind a computer screen thousands of miles from your target and killing people.
The people from Waziristan, where most of the drone strikes occurred, told us drones fly overhead 24/7 and people are afraid to congregate for fear they will be targeted. Their kids no longer to go school for fear of being targeted. Their governing body, the jirga, was targeted and at least 40 were killed.
What right does the U.S. have to do this to these people?
JOE LOMBARDO
Delmar