Mixed reaction to Iraq Study Group

Re “Bush not swayed by findings in Iraq study,” Dec. 8

The new mandate sent to the president by way of a national vote is being ignored. The president is deaf to the voices of the people once again.

His vision of victory in Iraq is egotistically intact, and he has not even mentioned the suggestion that he engage diplomatically with Syria and Iran to enlist help in reining in the insurgents who are determined to undermine his failing war on terrorism.

It is time for President Bush to drop his failed vision of an Iraq victory and deal with reality once and for all.

His policy has created a civil war there, and it is time to cut our losses, engage in diplomacy and start drawing down the troop levels.

At this point, victory equals an exit strategy.

JOHN BRAY

Wilmington

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If the president will not listen to the prestigious Iraq commission, we need the most powerful of persuasive tools: the threat of impeachment.

If we can actually impeach Bill Clinton over a sexual indiscretion, we certainly now have the legislative clout to hold this president’s feet to the fire.

SHERYL MACDOWELL

Los Angeles

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The bipartisan Iraq Study Group’s recommendations have an immediacy that cannot be ignored except at the peril of many lives, including many American lives.

It is urgent that Bush announce the immediate acceptance of all the panel’s recommendations in principle. And simultaneously he can announce a timetable for implementing each of the recommendations before the end of the year. The unanimity of the group underscores its validity and urgency.

MAURY WEINER

Tarzana

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Re “At least he read it,” editorial, and “It’s still all about oil in Iraq,” Opinion, Dec. 8

Reading your editorial and Antonia Juhasz’s column, one can see that the Bush administration is holding the Iraqis hostage, letting them know that until they turn over their oil fields -- both developed and undeveloped -- to U.S.-based oil companies, we will not withdraw our troops and stop our colonial occupation of their country, with the attendant bombings and deaths, ruined roads, utilities, schools and markets and general destruction and chaos.

In future years, we will think and whisper, with shame, of the Iraq hostage crisis of 2006 and 2007, when we held the Iraqis hostage for their oil.

CHERIE ROUSE

Loma Linda

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I am appalled at the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group. There was never any attempt to determine what course of action would best benefit the United States nor to determine what would be in the best interests of Iraq or the Middle East.

The commission’s sole goal was to find a way to provide a roadmap that would allow the president some modicum of face saving.

That is an outrage.

The study group basically said that we shall continue sacrificing our children and our treasury just so the president can salve his bruised ego. What a way to establish a foreign policy.

DARRYL DICKEY

Northridge

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Why isn’t anyone calling for an immediate cease-fire in Iraq?

How can any useful decisions be made about how to proceed when people are still shooting at each other?

Everybody needs to lay down his arms first, and all interested parties should be invited to the table to decide what to do next. Make it clear we will leave as soon as they ask us to.

It’s not hard to make peace when all sides make that a bigger priority than winning.

Why not try it?

SUSAN MCCABE

Valley Village