Refugee crisis result of military ‘solutions’

To the editor:

I was extremely disappointed to see that Rep. Dave Loebsack voted for a more stringent vetting process for the Syrian refugees.

The Bush/Cheney wars of the previous administration significantly contributed to the destabilization of the region, which is a primary cause of the large increase of the refugee population. It is the responsibility of the U.S. to take in the 10,000 refugees that President Barack Obama requested. In fact, I believe the number should be greater than 10,000, since this country's aggressively militaristic foreign policy is a root cause of the refugee crisis. And the enormous devastation to the political, social, and cultural fabric of Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan created by our incessant military 'solutions” will ensure that the U.S. and Europe will be dealing with this refugee crisis for decades to come.

Rejecting the Syrian refugees on the basis of their nationality and/or Muslim religion is completely uninformed and ignorant of the facts of this country's terrorism source over the past decade. Aside from the Boston Marathon bombing, the only terrorist attacks on U.S. soil since 9/11 have been committed by young white males who are U.S. citizens, and who would probably identify themselves as Christian. The hysterical reaction of the public and our elected officials to foreign-born Muslim refugees is such cowardice. When this refugee question is put to vote again, Rep. Loebsack's vote should be 'no” to the rejection of refugees.

Mary Martin

Veterans for Peace, Chapter 161

Iowa City