El Monte Soldiers Paid Ultimate Price in Iraq

When James Traub asks if “Americans are paying too high a price” in making Iraq a better place (Commentary, Nov. 3), I am reminded of two recent graduates of my school district who lost their lives in the “war.” Army Pfc. Jose Casanova, 23, died Oct. 12 in Baghdad when an Iraqi dump truck rolled over his vehicle. After Jose graduated from Arroyo High School in El Monte he returned to assist the new band director for two years and later worked as a campus supervisor at South El Monte High. Then there was Cpl. Jorge Gonzalez, 20, from El Monte High, who died March 22. Jorge never got to see his son, Alonso, who was born March 3.

So, yes, in the face of American soldiers continuing to fall daily (over 20 in just the last few days), the Iraqi people are better off. But just ask Alonso Gonzalez if he paid too high a price for this war when, in the coming years, only his mother goes to his soccer games, comes to his school’s open house and tucks him in at night.

Eric F. Burgess

El Monte

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Out of the depths of the president’s public relations department comes the new mantra “America will not run” (Nov. 4). The mantra fits all the criteria for effective PR. It’s only four words -- easy to remember -- and can be repeated with great vigor by the blowitzers on Fox, CNN and MSNBC. And it diverts attention from the only relevant inquiries, i.e., what is the president’s plan for the occupation of Iraq and how long will our sons and daughters be there as part of the occupation force?

Frank Ferrone

El Cajon

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Though I mourn the senseless loss of life in Iraq with the bombings and rocket attacks, I am appalled (as a Vietnam-generation baby boomer) at the gloom-and-doom attitude by the media and the Democratic candidates over recent events. While Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) decries the lack of international participation (didn’t we go to the U.N. twice?), whoever thinks that about 350 lives lost over a seven-month war campaign represents a quagmire, a setback or a time to rethink our strategy?

In Vietnam, we lost 58,000 lives over an eight-year time period. (This would average to about 140 soldiers per week.) In World War II we lost over 400,000 men. At Gettysburg, we lost more than 43,000 men in one day.

We lose one chopper and 15 men and we have to rethink our strategy? Our bad memories of Vietnam (a bad conclusion due to politics) have turned us into a country of wimps. We ran from Somalia and Lebanon, and the terrorists know it. Pull it together, America. You’re a superpower. Act like one.

Mark Collins

Altadena

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Re “Senate Passes $87.5-Billion Bill for Iraq, Afghanistan,” Nov. 4: I had a dream last night that the Congress passed a bill, and the president signed it, for $87 billion to rebuild our schools.

Joseph C. Cavella

Malibu

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Re “Less Bravado, More Frank Talk,” Nov. 3: Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz warns us that campaign debate about Iraq “sends a very unsettling message to Iraqis that our elections might decide their future.” Well, it seems to me that our 2000 presidential election, for all practical purposes, decided Iraq’s present. For better or worse, our elections cannot help but drive Iraq’s future, even if the map appears hard to read.

James S. Catterall

Topanga

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It’s very clear to me in studying military history that we will never win over the people in Iraq, no matter what the cost. Basically, they are now involved in a civil war, and we are caught in the middle. My suggestion is to pull out in one year and tell the Iraqis: If you want freedom, fight for it!

Henry Sakaida

Temple City