U.S. Should Explore Options Other Than Attacking Iraq

Re “Hussein Is Called ‘Mortal Threat,’ ” Aug. 27: Having spent my 18th, 19th and 20th birthdays in the service, 14 months of that on sea duty, I feel I am entitled to voice an opinion regarding the proposed attack on Iraq. Because of blind patriotism, like many other veterans I did not voice my opposition to the Vietnam War until it was too late. By then, 58,000 body bags had been filled, nearly 20% by Latinos, although we made up less than 10% of the population.

This time I am determined to raise my voice in protest before it is too late. What we need are leaders with understanding and vision rather than “talking heads” mouthing inflammatory conjecture as fact. If Saddam Hussein is truly a threat, there are ample ways to contain him, just as we have contained Fidel Castro, another convenient paper tiger. I think there has been enough killing in our generation, and we are still not safe. It is time to try another alternative.

Raymond Rodriguez

Long Beach

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When the U.S. launches its attack on Iraq, I want to see George W. Bush and Dick Cheney in uniform on the front lines.

Jeanne Edwards

La Canada Flintridge

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The detractors of the Bush administration’s plan to go after Iraq are saying we are being confrontational and stepping over our bounds. Do they remember 1991 and Iraq agreeing to inspections? Do they remember Iraq kicking out the U.N. inspectors? Based on those two criteria, I can’t see how they are saying we don’t have the right to go back into Iraq.

Do they really think Iraq would hesitate to put a nuclear weapon in the U.S.? If they do, they are truly ostriches.

Don Lafferty

Winnetka

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Regarding the Bush administration’s Iraq bluster: Those of us old enough to remember the Vietnam War may recall the Nixon-Kissinger “total lunatic” theory of negotiation, which they attempted to practice (unsuccessfully) on the North Vietnamese: If you can convince the enemy that you’re crazy enough to do anything--like drop the bomb--you put them at a disadvantage when it comes to bargaining.

Regarding Iraq (and other matters), the current Bush team seems to have evolved that doctrine into what might be called the “total imbecile” theory--the idea that it is stupid enough to do anything. The problem with this theory is that it seems to be making our friends more hysterical than our enemies.

Jonathan Aurthur

Santa Monica