Using Violence, the U.S. Forces Its Help on Iraq

I was relieved to learn from military affairs analyst William Arkin (Opinion, April 18) that Iraqis understand only violence. I thought some Iraqis might understand that the liberating Army that deposed Saddam Hussein has no intention of leaving and that the shortage of water, electricity, food and medical treatment, the night raids, the shooting of civilians at checkpoints, the detention of prisoners and the bombing of homes and mosques will continue indefinitely. I was a little worried that some Iraqis might understand that their Paul Bremer/Ahmad Chalabi government is busy selling off the public assets of Iraq to private corporations tied to our government.

Silly me. They understand only violence, and we have confused them with our “inherent humanity.” The answer is clear even to me, and I don’t have the advantage of a military education. No more Mr. Nice Guy. Ramp it up. Isn’t it time to revive the thrilling slogan “Bomb them back to the Stone Age,” from the glory days of our democratic mission in Vietnam? Anyone else remember the wonderful clarity of that war?

Jonathan Beggs

Sherman Oaks

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Arkin writes, “One of the strengths of our forces is their inherent humanity and absence of brutality.” In “Marine Corps Snipers Aim to Strike Fear,” April 17: “Sometimes a guy will go down, and I’ll let him scream a bit to destroy the morale of his buddies,” said the Marine corporal. “Then I’ll use a second shot.” Arkin and I have very different ideas of what constitutes humanity and brutality.

Bill McGann

Camarillo

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Bush-bashers criticize the president for initiating war against Iraq, but they are silent about Hussein. Do they believe Saddam should be restored to power? Do they believe he should have remained in power to continue torturing and murdering his subjects, financing suicide bombers in Israel and perhaps buying an atomic weapon from North Korea?

Which is it, war or Saddam? They can’t have it both ways.

Gary A. Robb

Los Feliz

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It seems to me that George W. Bush, aided and abetted by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, is laying strong foundations for the start of a third world war.

Mary Overbey

Palos Verdes Estates

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Every day I hear on the radio that American soldiers were attacked and killed in an ambush or roadside bombing. Is it worth all the American lives being lost in a country that is so resistant to change and doesn’t want our help or influence? Is it worth all the pain and sorrow for the families of dead American soldiers and Marines? I know that we have to be strong and win the fight against terrorism, but how can there be a solution to this situation with so much chaos and turmoil among the Iraqi people?

Peace can come only when the Iraqi people find peace among themselves.

Kristen Lee

Studio City

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Why is the U.S. fighting for democracy in Iraq? According to President Bush, most Iraqis want democracy. If that is true, then it is the Iraqi people who should be fighting for it, not us.

Walter Harris

Woodland Hills

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Thank you for publishing photos of two young Iraqis, one a small girl holding a white flag while begging for food and water, the other a teenage girl lying in a hospital crying from her injuries (April 18). The brutality of U.S. and Israeli power and terror by way of military occupation must be humanized before Americans can fully understand the hatred and disappointments pulsating toward us from Iraq and the Palestinian territories, the entire Arab world and beyond.

Barbara Aswad

Claremont