Letter to the Editor: Submitted by Elaine St. Clair

To the Editor:

I sent this message to the six members of the U.S. Congressional Delegation from the state of Iowa March 10, 2026. The casual way the words ‘boots on the ground’ and ‘draft’ are communicated in reporting strikes terror in me.

Combatants for a worthy war are daughters, sons, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law and grandchildren.  When senators and representatives believe completely in a war, they can willingly offer their dear ones. The dear ones of every senator, representative and billionaire would be offered up to a worthy war effort.

When a regime believes citizens are less than human, it is easy to speak about boots on the ground and a draft. When the current service men and women are used up, the draft is the next step to supply combatants for a vanity war.

May the U.S. Congressional Delegation be mindful of the way they think, speak and vote.

Elaine St. Clair
Decorah