Turmoil in Iraq

Now we know: The bravery and sacrifices of our men and women in the armed services were in vain. Saddam will survive--and win. President Bush has sold out the Kurds and Shiites of Iraq, just as Ronald Reagan sold out the Christians of Lebanon to Syria in 1984 (and Bush sold them out again last fall).

Because of Bush’s retreat, the United States will have to keep large ground forces in the Persian Gulf indefinitely. When he has beaten down domestic opposition, Saddam will pick off our soldiers with terrorist attacks, as Hafez Assad of Syria did to our Marines in Lebanon in 1983. Ultimately, we will have a choice between fighting another war, much more costly than the first, and withdrawing and letting Saddam have Kuwait and the Gulf. And all because Bush would not let Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf finish off the Republican Guards and would not help the people of Iraq liberate themselves.

JON BILLIGMEIER

Northridge