Dear Editor: I just don’t understand the recent stands of the U.S. government. Why do we need to be backing Syrian rebels? It seems we did not learn from Egypt, Iraq, Libya and Tunisia! All of these countries are being governed by Islamists. The Christians and minorities in general are being attacked daily. Their churches are being burned. How many Christians are left in Iraq? How many are currently leaving Egypt? We do not know the people we are backing!

When Sen. John McCain visited Syria in May, he appeared in photos with two members of the Sunni "Northern Storm" brigade, which kidnapped 11 Lebanese. Are these the terrorists that we will be arming? Protests in Egypt and other countries led to the rise of extremists in government. Is this the outcome we are looking for in Syria? A hostile government against the U.S.? We should stay out of this war as no good outcome will be achieved. There are massacres from all sides. I suggest the money we are spending in this war should be spent on our economy and jobs or humanitarian aid to other countries.

Malek el Khazen

Milwaukee