“I just hope they understand our motives,” he says of Iraqis. “That’s when things will take a turn for the better.”

Yantek says a lot of Iraqis must feel they’re better off without Saddam, but there is much left to be desired.

“There’s a lot they don’t have, including their own government,” Yantek says. “They’re a proud people from a culture that goes back much further than the U.S. We have deemed them not ready for that. Try to put yourself in that situation — you’re not mature enough to govern yourself.”

He says many anti-war protesters are using the war with Iraq as a means to express a vendetta against President George W. Bush. Cox says he would not agree with a war just because a leader does. He believes some forms of war would not be legitimate.

“I would draw the line if I thought the war with Iraq was imperialistic in nature. But the U.S. is not an imperialistic country.”

Cox says he also sees some parallels between the Iraq conflict and Vietnam. However, he says supporters of the anti-war movement see themselves as noble idealists and would like the general public to see more similarities than really exist.

“I think the work we’re doing against terror in Iraq is good work, noble work,” Cox says.

A just war, he says, is one that includes a “threat to life and liberty against us or people in general, really.”

“I hope that peace and freedom will ultimately prevail,” he says. But, “there is always going to be a fight.”

However, Cox was upset by the behavior of those who agreed to fight. The media showed many soldiers who were disappointed by their extended time in Iraq.

“They knew at the recruitment office what could happen.” Cox says. “We have a system that allows us, thank God, a volunteer military.”

a volunteer military man

Todd Lee was in the Marines for four years, with a total service of eight years.

Lee is hesitant to give a concrete opinion of the war with Iraq, or other wars.

“I would never, ever oppose a war while I’m in the military. I may not agree why I’m over there or why they’re over there,” he says, but “I would keep my personal opinion to myself.

“I don’t think our nation would ever ask you do to do anything morally wrong.”

When Lee hears people opposed to the war, he tries explain the perspective of the many soldiers overseas trying to help. After being stationed in Kosovo and Afghanistan, Lee knows what a stressful situation it can be.

Lee says he spent more than 48 days in Kosovo at Camp Casablanca and Camp Able Sentry doing border control and humanitarian aid.