Why war was inevitable.

• Position: Letter to the editor

Because of the cloud of fear we live under--a fear cultivated so assiduously by the neocons and stoked by oil, food, housing, and other shortages--we need to elevate skepticism to replace patriotism. When Matthew Rothschild reminds us of the herd mentality exhibited by the media following 9/11, we strive to blame the professionals (Comment, "Mainstream Media Culpability," July issue). But where was America's backbone? There were voices speaking against war even then. Americans...