Letter: Chronicle's endorsement of Iraq war 'shameful'

As an alumnus, I am deeply disturbed that The Chronicle has endorsed the Bush administration's reckless charge to war against Iraq in its Feb. 10 editorial. The Bush administration has continually failed to make the case that the United States faces imminent danger from Iraq. But don't take my word for it.

CIA Director George Tenet, in an October letter to Congress, revealed that the threat of an unprovoked attack against America is "low." Put simply, if Iraqi-assisted terrorists do attack on U.S. soil, it could very well be the result of an eerie self-fulfilling prophecy.

But perhaps the most reprehensible action by the Bush administration is the attempt to play on the fears of the American people to further its hawkish agenda. At every chance possible, George W. Bush attempts to establish a link in the minds of the American people between the events of Sept. 11 and the Iraqi government. There is simply no evidence that such a link existed, and Bush deeply undermines the case for war when he compels Americans to infer that such a link exists. If war ensues, however, it's not hard to conceive that we will kill far more innocents than died on Sept. 11.

Academic institutions in the United States need to examine how the United States can promote peace and reduce terrorism by becoming a better global citizen-not by a "might makes right" ethos. The Chronicle's endorsement of this war is simply shameful to our academic community.