War in Iraq: Still a Sensitive Subject

By: Jessica Moschella, Christina Kostic, Brittany Lyon, and Marissa Brody
Posted In: News

Five years after its launch, the ‘war on terrorism’ is still a sensitive topic among students and faculty at Salve Regina University.

“We did what we had to do. I don’t think that it would be right if we left [Iraq],” said Jessica Delucia, a junior at Salve Regina University.

According to the Associated Press, the number of American lives lost in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, approximately 2,973 people, has now been matched by the deaths of American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Delucia, an avid supporter of the Bush Administration, described herself as “pro war” and said that the actions and decisions made were necessary and appropriate in regards to the circumstances.

Cheryl Lemenager, a double major in Religious Studies and Politics with a concentration in Comparative Government, said that when fighting for any cause, struggle and strife are bound to occur. Although Lemenager doesn’t fully agree with the war, she knows

that deaths are inevitable.

“Loss of life is always negative, and unfortunately, it’s bound to happen in war,” Lemenager said.

Judd Coderre, a junior in the Admistration of Justice department, agrees. When asked whether or not he was pro war, he responded, “it would be counter productive not to be.”

Coderre has first hand knowledge of the effects that the Iraq conflict can pose; a very close friend of his is involved in the ROTC program at Bryant College and may be deployed to Iraq in January.

If a draft was issued Coderre said, “I would go in a heartbeat!”

For others, the number of U.S. deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan are a reason to reconsider U.S. involvement.

Dr. George Antone, head of study abroad programs for the university, said that the war makes organizing these programs taxing. There are students that would like to study in countries in the Middle East, but because of security issues he can not allow it. He also said that not only are foreigners opposing the U.S. government, as has been the trend in the past, but that they are now becoming “anti-American” toward the citizens.

He made the point that even though he is opposed to the war, he feels that it is owed to the people in Iraq that the United States finishes what was started. But he reiterated, “I think it was disastrous on the part of the Bush Administration.”

Freshman Sarah Pike believes that the war is pointless. Pike has always been

against the war and the number of deaths only upholds her opinion.

After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, she believed that America became extremely fragile rather than the dominant force the nation used to be. Pike explains that today’s generation is less involved because there is less attention on the war and more attention on

celebrities.

Pike tells the story of her mother, who during the time of Vietnam, went to protests and was preoccupied with the war. Pike sometimes wishes her generation could be more involved but does not know a way which in which to do so.

Sophomore Hannah Ancel also opposes the war in Iraq and said that deaths from war cannot be justified on any level. “It’s a loss of human life, and was unnecessary from the beginning,” Ancel Said.

According to Ancel, the country has not only been devastated from the lives lost in 9/11, but now faces the reality that more men and women will continue to die everyday in Iraq.