We have military bases all over the world. This is true, and many are in countries that wish to have them there: South Korea, Germany, Japan, friends of this country.

The bases are still there because it is in those countries' interest and ours to have them in these places.

It amazes me to see how some perceive the military. In Mr. Cevette's column, he claims our military machine is in place to just kill and terrorize. I would strongly disagree with him. Our military is in place to protect us and others in the world from terrorists and other things. Whenever a natural disaster happens in the world, it is this military machine that is usually the first on the scene delivering aid and help to those in need. It happened with the tsunami in the far East Indian Ocean. We send aid and supplies wherever disaster happens, and it is this horrible military machine Cevette is so willing to put down.

Yes, the military does answer to the president, and it is the way it should be, to the disgust of many. I wonder where the disgust was during the bombing in Bosnia and other countries that many other presidents, not named Bush, have done over the years. The military seems to be a case of attack now that select legislators cannot scream about the surge in Iraq -- the surge they now claim credit for but at the time were against.

I know from personal fact that the surge is and has worked. My son is over there and has been twice. This time, he tells me, it is quiet in the area he is in, and the Iraqi people have taken more control of the area, not letting the terrorists take charge to the disdain of some in this country. It seems they wanted a complete loss and pull out for our troops.

The claim that the Iraqi government is not working is true to some extent, but it is a work in progress. How many readers know that one big benchmark was just passed in the past two weeks? This one, about which our Congress and Senate screamed the loudest in September about not happening, allowed former Baath party members to serve in the new government in Iraq.

One question for Mr. Cevette from me is just how many radical Islamics is he willing to let live and continue to try and kill us here and over in the Middle East before he wants this military machine to protect him and his family?

I'm very proud of our military and Gen. Petraus and his staff for doing the great job they are doing, to the disdain of some here in this great country.

Dale Parrish of LaSalle is the proud father of one military machine