The Wrong Leaders for Postwar Iraq

Re “U.S. Fumbling Postwar Plan,” Commentary, April 4: Hussein Ibish brings up points that should concern every American, because although the war is proving a little harder and longer than the Bush administration anticipated, there’s no limit to how hard and long-lasting the “peace” could be.

Putting retired Lt. Gen. Jay Garner, an avowed supporter of the Israeli hard right, in charge of the occupation will increase Arab rage across the region, jeopardizing a peaceful reconstruction and encouraging terrorists to equate the U.S. with Israel. Giving Ahmad Chalabi -- a condemned swindler! -- “advisor” status during the occupation will invite disgust from all our hoped-for allies across the world and confirm suspicions that the Bush administration is too comfortable ignoring laws that it finds inconvenient.

Treating the business of the occupation as an opportunity to hand out political favors caters to the lowest opinions of this country held by the growing numbers of people who disapprove of us.

Renee Leask

Glendale

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Re “Mixed Success for Retaliation Efforts in Congress,” April 4: The House of Representatives and some senators have demonstrated a new level of imperial arrogance by proposing to penalize nations (France and Germany, in particular) that had the temerity to oppose military action against Iraq in preference to the continuation of inspections and sanctions.

John Riley

Laguna Hills