I came across this short letter to the editor this morning while reading the Oregonian newspaper with my breakfast.

"Concerning your Aug. 6 report (Iraq banks billions while U.S. foots bill), stop and imagine for a moment that you're in your own home minding your own business.  Outsiders have accused you of manufacturing deadly weapons.  You protest your innocence.

Despite many reports showing you're not guilty, heavily armed people kick in the door of your house, destroy everything inside it and render the house itself uninhabitable.  They kill members of your family in the process.

Others flee in terror.  No deadly weapons are found.  The strangers make themselves at home in the ruins of your home.  You begin trying to make them leave, first by reason and then by force.

While the invaders are still camped in your ruined house, they complain that you are stingy because you are not paying to clean and repair the place fast enough to suit them, and that you are not grateful for their help.  How would you react?

Gail Amara - SE Portland, Oregon

I could not have said it better myself.  So what if Iraqi oil production has brought in $179 billion over the last several years?  So what if they have hardly paid for their own re-construction?  I am of the opinion that we Americans owe them (the Iraqi people) much, much more than we are willing to confess to.

This is where I split with my liberal friends and associates.  I don't think we should drop everything and run.  We owe it to the Iraqi people to help them get back to pre-invasion levels of functioning before we leave.  The best way of course would be to draw down U.S. combat troops over a two year period while replacing them tens of thousands of re-construction workers that would stay in Iraq until the job is done, whenever that would be.

Americans are great when it comes to talking about personal responsibility, but profoundly lack that same value when putting it into common, everyday practice.

Be patriotic. Support the re-construction of Iraq.