Arguments for and against the war in Iraq

Re “Bush Keeps Up Drumbeat on Iraq’s Progress,” Dec. 8

After listening to President Bush’s latest Iraq speech, my brain has gone numb. After anger and denial, it had nowhere else to go.

In his latest speech, Bush opens and closes with references to Dec. 7, 1941, and Sept. 11, 2001. Today’s war of choice on Iraq can in no way be justified by either of these events. Period.

In 1941, we declared war on Japan and its allies as a direct result of Japan’s action. In 2003, we declared war on Iraq as a direct result of something totally unrelated to Sept. 11.

KEVIN MCDERMOTT

Los Angeles

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Re “Saddam’s chief apologist,”

Opinion, Dec. 8

As his undiluted support for the war in Iraq continues, Christopher Hitchens comes up with new and nefarious means to continue his attacks on those who oppose it. His newest attack on logic goes like this: former U.S. Atty. Gen. Ramsey Clark is a leading antiwar spokesman; Clark is part of Saddam Hussein’s defense team; Hussein is a renowned “butcher,” therefore antiwar proponents are Hussein apologists.

There are many of us who have opposed the Iraq war all along, recognize that Hussein was a vicious tyrant and also haven’t considered Clark a representative or spokesman for our beliefs for more than 20 years.

Maybe Hitchens could save us a lot of trouble and just admit that he was wrong about the Iraq war and get on with it. Or at least he could take a refresher course in logic.

PAUL J. MARKOWITZ

West Hills

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Hitchens gets it exactly right. The American antiwar movement has already become the cheerleading squad for even the most depraved of insurgents; it is no surprise it now defends one of the worst human beings alive. However, Hitchens makes one error: Hussein’s favorite despicable tyrant was Stalin, who, of course, made Mussolini’s terror look like child’s play.

GREG KUBARYCH

Irvington, N.Y.

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Hitchens writes another well-thought-out piece of irrelevant outrage over the criminal defense of Hussein as his main argument for having invaded Iraq. But here’s the problem with his argument: We don’t care. What Americans care about right now is getting out of Iraq as soon as possible. And no amount of feigned outrage over Hussein’s crimes as the latest justification for going to war is going to matter anymore. We cannot stay in Iraq any longer. If there is going to be any peace and stability in Iraq, America must withdraw, because the sooner we stop shooting at them, the sooner they will stop shooting at us -- and the better off everyone will be.

JOSEPH NERI

West Covina