This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Remember Iraq and WMDs? The fear thus spread resulted in more than 5,000 dead and more than 30,000 maimed for life service members, huge debts for wars not paid for and a crashing economy.

Now GOP candidates are shamelessly exploiting the terror in Paris for political gain, spreading fear and lies, seeking to destroy our empathy towards refugees.

They want to "destroy" ISIS, but not with Trump's or Romney's sons, of course. They are promoting hatred towards Muslims and unwarranted suspicion towards Syrian refugees. The Paris terrorists were "home-grown," not Syrian refugees.

Trump wants to treat our Muslim citizens like the Nazis treated Jews. Outrageous! How thinking people can be taken in by Trump, a boasting big mouth who provably lies fluidly and frequently, escapes me. He is for placing a big "M" on Muslims' clothing, while Carson equates refugees to "wild dogs." Presidential? Really? This aggressive, unthinking conduct plays into the hands of ISIS!

More than 30,000 deaths by gun violence annually are tolerated while common sense demands reasonable background checks for purchasing guns. Any terrorists entering from Europe by present "visa waiver" can purchase assault weapons, while we allow the NRA to dictate our gun policies. How stupid!

Maria Roberts

Park City