Different perspectives on Iraq’s fiscal fallout

Re “War’s stunning price tag,” Opinion, Jan. 17

Now we know that the Iraq war has weakened us not only economically but militarily. We do not have the resources to conduct a sustained military effort if we are called upon to do so, which is why there is so much saber rattling against American interests everywhere.

The most maddening part of this entire debacle is that it was entirely predictable. Nations throughout history have overextended themselves militarily and have paid a dear price for their misadventures.

Why were our leaders incapable of seeing something that was readily apparent to anyone who didn’t sleep through 10th-grade history courses?

DENNIS M. CLAUSEN

Escondido

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Have you heard that the Iraqi elections were a brilliant success, producing a stable, secular, pro-Western state? Didn’t think so. Our candidates got a thrashing. The winners were the Shiites, who will set up a fundamental Islamic state when we leave. Iraq will fall apart like Yugoslavia did. Stiglitz and Bilmes estimate the total cost of this fiasco at nearly $2 trillion. For what, exactly? For thousands of needless deaths, torture scandals, less oil, higher prices, boosting Iran’s nuclear program and reinvigorating Al Qaeda. Heck of a job, Dubya.

RAYMOND FREEMAN

Thousand Oaks

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I disagree with the belief of Bilmes and Stiglitz that the Iraq war will necessarily have a long-term negative impact on the U.S. economy. Wars can have the opposite effect. The financing of World War II stimulated the domestic economy, rescued the country from the Depression and, even though most of the cost was financed by borrowing that increased the national debt, the war was followed by decades of economic growth and prosperity in the U.S., the West and Japan. I am convinced the Iraq war was unnecessary, is politically damaging to the U.S., is immoral and has made the world a more dangerous place. But from the narrow economic standpoint, the war may benefit rather than hurt the economy.

SYLVAN GOLLIN

Claremont