I grow weary of the McCain campaign accusing those who oppose our continued involvement in Iraq of being “defeatists, and too willing to surrender.” I suspect such rhetoric is intended to portray such individuals as unpatriotic.

As a psychologist who has treated sufferers of combat PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), I hold strong opinions regarding how wars can be won; especially wars fought from hidden agendas, and based upon lies, greed and demagoguery.

You win such a war when no soldier dies, on either side, or comes home crippled, or wakes up screaming in the midst of a nightmare reliving their combat experiences — or commits suicide. You win such a war when no children die, or refugee families flee their homes seeking safety. You win such a war when not one tax dollar, which could be used to provide healthcare, build schools, or repair a crumbling infrastructure, is poured into the bottomless hole of the curse called war.

In other words, whenever you fight a war of choice, which should never be fought in the first place, you lose. Period. End of argument.

So do me, and yourself, a favor Sen. McCain. Find a more honest and less bloodthirsty way to win the election!

Damon C. Newcomb, MS

LaVale