Iraq: Bring Common Sense to the One-Sided War Talk

Re “The Iraq Divide,” Opinion, Aug. 11: Jack Germond is a breath of fresh air! While almost all of the talking-head media are embracing the Bush administration’s war drive on Iraq, Germond arrives with a little common sense. Certainly, few of us doubt the U.S. military’s ability to defeat and overthrow Saddam Hussein and his troops. What isn’t being discussed, however, is how many millions, if not billions, of dollars we taxpayers would have to put out to ensure the stability of the economic and political infrastructure of Iraq.

And ultimately, how would U.S. unilateral action against Hussein affect our “war on terror” international coalition? We can only hope that somewhere in this government there lurks a Jack Germond handing out a little wisdom here and there.

Bob Teigan

Simi Valley

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Germond notes, “Some ... suspect that Bush’s determination to oust the Iraqi leader is driven by a need to atone for his father’s failure to drive on to Baghdad 11 years ago.” I don’t think atonement has much to do with it. I attribute Bush’s championing of war to a different motive: Don’t get mad, get even. I believe that Bush is obsessed with Hussein because Bush Sr. was dumped from office while Hussein continues to be in power and thumbs his nose at Bush Jr.

Martin Parker

Thousand Oaks

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Charles Duelfer’s premise that the U.S. “can’t stand by” and allow Hussein to assemble a nuclear weapons arsenal is overly simplistic and arrogant. What right do we have now to abuse Iraq’s sovereignty? Direct military intervention without allied support would further undermine our position as a responsible world leader. President Bush is already thought of as a gunslinger.

In this economic climate, the U.S. can no longer afford to finance the “world policeman” role. Our deteriorating medical care and school systems need resources. A more responsible strategy would be to deal with the devil we know, develop new energy sources and reserves to reduce dependence on the region and let the U.N., imperfect as it is, wrestle with the problem. If our children and grandchildren must fight a war, I for one would prefer it not be over oil, power and political maneuvering. Let’s put the people’s priorities on top for a change.

Jack A. Gessner

Santa Ana

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Now that he is going after the chief executives and Hussein, can anyone remember the name of that other outlaw that Sheriff Bush said he would get “dead or alive”?

Ed Redhead

Port Hueneme