Thou shalt not kill

I refer to a letter by John J. Mercieca (May 16). Although what he says may be true, that is, the present situation in Iraq under American rule is much better than it was before, I cannot see how war can be justified.

What about the hundreds of innocent people killed or maimed for life as a consequence of war, whatever the end result may be? What about the children who are completely shattered, physically and emotionally and will probably need medical and psychological help for the rest of their young lives, when they do not even know the meaning of the word "war"?

Research shows that the effects of human trauma on the human psyche comes, more often than not, from war victims and victims of other violence, be it physical or emotional.

Those who do survive use their powerful defences of denial, repression and fantasy until they find the means to escape. The unlucky who do not possess such healing powers and who do not find the necessary support will "fall into a private hell, an abyss of mental illness, die, or propagate their horrific legacy by hurting others".

As John Milton said "for what can war, but endless war still breed?"

And anyway are we not supposed to be Catholic? Jesus told us love your enemies. One of our commandments is thou shalt not kill.

In the very words of Franklin D. Roosevelt: "I have seen war- I hate war".