Friedman Aaaarggggg last

To the Editor:

Re "Axis of Appeasement" (column, March 18):

The Bush administration justified its attack on Iraq by claiming that Iraq had WMD, was an imminent threat to the West and had links to Al Qaeda. The Spanish public, like that of most of Europe and unlike that of the US, did not believe this, some 90% being against the war. They believed that unprovoked aggression against Iraq would lead to a increased hostility to the US. The Spanish public were right and exercised their democratic right to rid themselves of a government that ignored their views. The Spanish have been fighting terrorism for a long time, and will doubtless continue to do so, but recognize that this fight does not involve attacking and occupying countries which are not related to this terrorism. Most people in the world do not see the US as a benevolent force for good in the world, fighting 'radical evil' and bringing democracy to Iraq. They see a lone superpower using brute force wherever it wants to further its interests. A democratic populace can not condone 'nation-building' imposed at gunpoint. The new Spanish government is respecting both Spanish and Iraqi public opinion in calling for the withdrawal of foreign troops as soon as an Iraqi government is in place.