Defenses of the War Have Some Holes

Re “The Danger of the Kennedy Quagmire,” Commentary, July 1: If David Gelernter truly does not understand the difference between Omaha Beach and the present situation in Iraq, his article does not deserve consideration.

In World War II, we faced an enemy that had conquered most of Europe, was about to defeat Britain and was a direct threat to the continuation of our way of life. In Iraq, our troops face daily threats to their well-being, but this country has never been threatened by Iraq, and the nonexistent weapons of mass destruction are no longer mentioned.

His revisionist history of the Vietnam War does not deserve comment. What we are doing in Iraq is neither “good” nor “right,” and while the troops should be supported, every effort should be made to bring this ill-considered effort to a close.

John S. Nelson

Los Angeles

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Gelernter conveniently ignores the major differences between D-day and the current war (or insurgency, it doesn’t matter what you call it) in Iraq. If the U.S. troops that landed on Omaha Beach had been there for more than two years when the secretary of War said they might be there for another six years, they might have felt they were in a quagmire.

It’s nice of Gelernter to believe it is OK to lie to or mislead our troops to make sure they keep fighting a war that is, uh, what are these kids dying for again? Maybe he could volunteer to join the troops over there, to let them know he doesn’t think they are in a quagmire and make sure they keep risking their necks.

What a pathetic analogy to use to defend an indefensible war.

Ken Goldsholl

Santa Barbara

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Re “Why Bush Won’t Send More Troops,” Commentary, July 1: Jonathan Chait says that, unlike Stalin, Bush is not insane. Instead, Bush’s motivation appears to be “ideological fanaticism.” What a relief. I always thought that anyone responsible for the deaths of over 1,700 American boys and girls, the maiming of over 12,000, the collateral deaths of Iraqi civilians estimated at between 25,000 and 100,000, the debilitation of their economy and ours, and the further enrichment of the rich, without a qualm of conscience, must surely be insane. How reassuring to know this government is in the hands only of an ideological fanatic.

Jay W. Friedman

Los Angeles

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Michael Ramirez’s June 30 editorial cartoon, “The Marathon Runner,” not only misses the mark, but is completely disingenuous. Given the mounting evidence that the war was launched on a pack of lies, I don’t know what’s more surprising, that the “marathon running” U.S. public made it to Mile 3, or that we continue to run at all. After all, were we not promised a cakewalk?

Jay Speiden

Los Angeles