Bringing closure to my nightmare

FOR the first time in five years I can say that Christmas was almost pleasurable — and I have to give all the credit for that to US President Barack Obama.

For the first time since the death of my son Matthew, from injuries received in Iraq, did I find myself not dwelling on the killing and dying in that land. Perhaps the end of that disastrous war will finally bring closure to my nightmare. Obama himself said that it was easier to start a war than to end one. The pain and loss of my only son will never end but maybe I now can see the way forward.

Over that five-year period I have come to believe that the US is the greatest force on the earth to do good. But sadly it is also the greatest force to do wrong. The man sitting in the Oval Office has the ability to decide which way the country will go.

It is quite amazing to me that there is a large number of people in the US who believe that Obama is leading the country in the wrong direction. After spending a week beside my son’s deathbed, surrounded by numerous other young men and women with life-threatening injuries, it is a relief to say that not one US soldier was injured or killed in Iraq over Christmas.

Now it is time for Obama to send the troops home from Afghanistan. The death of Osama Bin Laden completed the mission. It is the good thing to do.

Obama has outlawed torture, attempted to close Guantanamo Bay, and bring healthcare to 40 million people. He has changed laws restricting Wall Street and bankers.

All of his possible Republican opponents want to go back. They want to replace Iraq with Iran. And their biggest demand, do not raise taxes on the super rich, not even to the level of the Clinton era. Unbelievably they want to go back to the Bush era. I say no to any more Matthews.

John Fenton

Father of US Marine Sgt Matthew Fenton

(Died 5/5/2006)

Church Bay

Crosshaven

Co Cork