Democracy Takes Time to Gain a Foothold

Re “U.S. Struggles in Quicksand of Iraq,” news analysis, May 5: According to the lead: “Nearly a month after Baghdad fell ... “ and things are still not neat and tidy. Is this truly unexpected by any critical thinker? Look at our own history. It wasn’t until nearly 13 years after declaring independence (and more than five years after the English withdrew) that the newly formed United States of America finally ratified its federal Constitution and held its first presidential election. No quicksand, no quagmire; it was merely the process of political and democratic evolution. To all those who insist on quick and easy solutions, I say at least give Iraq and its liberators a few more days.

Greg Strangis

Los Angeles

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Within the media’s dire proclamations about disorder in Iraq there is a tacit wistfulness for the “stability” seen under Saddam Hussein. Another dictator, Benito Mussolini, was lauded because he made “the trains run on time.” A few late locomotives is a small price to pay for freedom.

Jason Karpf

Thousand Oaks

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Re “A Heavy Purple Heart,” May 6: What a tear-jerker of a story: A young man travels halfway around the world to fight but gets injured before he can kill a single person. Please tell me that your article was intended to be tongue-in-cheek.

Paul D. Steenhausen

Sacramento