Lessons to Be Learned From a Costly War

Re “ ‘A True Soldier’ -- but a Statistic Too,” July 22: U.S. Army Capt. Steven Barry referred to the “scum who continue to attack us” in Iraq. He also refers to an American soldier “who lost his life fighting cowardly Iraqis.” It is amazing that our military leadership still has not learned to avoid demonizing and dehumanizing the “enemy.” Naively, I thought this lesson was learned after the disastrous results of characterizing the Vietnamese as “gooks” during the Vietnam War.

And as far as cowardice is concerned, I believe the most powerful military in the history of the world annihilating a Third World, rag-tag army is the ultimate in cowardice.

Robert Lentz

Sylmar

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Re “Lynch Gets a Flag-Waving Welcome,” July 23: The country says that U.S. Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch is a hero. I say that she was just in the right place at the right time. She is getting her 15 minutes of fame for getting shot at, then not dying.

What about the medals and recognition for the brave soldiers who went in to save her? I don’t know their names, and I haven’t heard anything about them. They are the true heroes who must be recognized.

As a society, we have always valued the excitement of being a victim more than we value the true bravery of those who put themselves in harm’s way to save the victim.

Nick Pernisco

Van Nuys

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Suddenly, starkly, the cost of our Iraq adventure comes clear in terms every American can understand: $1 billion a week. A body a day. Two questions, then: What are we getting for this open-ended outpouring of American lives and treasure? How long will we agree to pay the price?

Ronald S. Bonn

San Diego