Bob Kerrey

* Re “Kerrey Tells of ’69 Vietnam Raid That Killed Civilians,” April 26: War is ugly. It asks everyone involved to do horrible things, to kill or be killed, and no amount of political rationalizing can change that one fact. There is no such thing as a “fair” war, or a war by the rules. The only rule is to survive.

If we do not like hearing about war and its atrocities, then we will have to stop wars. If we don’t want our young people doing “terrible things,” then we should stop sending them out to fight. If the political leaders of countries had to stand toe to toe with each other and fight to the death, war would stop in a hurry. Until then, we shouldn’t rush to judge the Bob Kerreys we send out to war.

MARK POULSON

Los Angeles

*

After it was reported that American soldiers massacred hundreds of civilians in My Lai, it was explained as an “isolated” incident. That was denial for domestic consumption. But growing up in Asia, I knew there were hundreds, if not thousands, of similar massacres.

Now the lid has been blown again. Our Bronze Star recipient commanded a massacre of civilians. Perhaps Kerrey’s war crime will be creatively explained away also for domestic consumption. Certainly he won’t be sent to The Hague.

STEVE LAU

Huntington Beach

*

Until you have slept for days in the mud; until you have spent days and weeks and even months living in constant, unremitting fear for your life; until you have gone hungry or eaten cold meals days on end; until you have felt the combination of adrenaline rush and absolute terror when attacking under fire, not knowing who is firing on you, who is merely watching; until you have done all this and experienced the loss of close friends--friends who have given their lives to save you--you have no idea what it is like to be a soldier in combat. If you have done all this, you will know not to criticize the actions of anyone who also has. And until you have done all these things, you have no right to criticize the actions of anyone who has.

They need to leave Kerrey alone. Surely he has suffered enough--but will continue to suffer with his memories until the day he dies.

ADOLPH B. AMSTER

Ridgecrest

*

The slur of former Sen. Kerrey’s service in the American nightmare of Vietnam is nothing other than the first volley of Republican politics of destruction, election 2004.

KEN BURKETT

Los Angeles