Killing of 2 soldiers in the Iraq war

Re “U.S. Investigates GIs’ ‘Barbaric’ Slayings in Iraq,” June 21

If ever there were a reason to get out of Iraq, it was the revolting, repulsive, barbaric and brutal murders of two of our honored soldiers in that hellhole. For what did they give their lives? This is a war we cannot win because we are essentially going it alone. To fight for our country is one thing, but to fight against barbarians and religious psychotics is quite another. The Iraqis have got to take over for themselves. We have already given too much. We are getting nothing but negativism and vilification, ad infinitum. Our country needs a new direction.

LORRAINE B. KIRK

Rancho Palos Verdes

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The Times has stated that a group “affiliated with” or “linked to” Al Qaeda claimed to be responsible for the abduction and death of the two U.S. servicemen. What do these terms mean? They are simply stated without any further justification.

Given the amount of skepticism that has accompanied President Bush’s claim of an “affiliation” or “link” between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda, which allegedly justifies the deaths of thousands in the U.S. invasion of Iraq, The Times might consider more circumspection in throwing around such allegations without any evidence. That such populist phrases have been repeatedly promulgated in this manner amounts to the systematic propagation of a doctrine in the interest of those who favor this war.

CHRIS MITCHELL

Venice

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My heart goes out to the families of these fine, brave soldiers who did not deserve to die in such a horrific way. As divided as some of us are about this war, I hope politicians -- Republicans and Democrats alike -- will not use this tragedy for their own agendas.

Spare me the rhetoric. I’m not interested in what politicians have to say, other than what they are personally going to do for the grieving families.

I recall how casualties in the beginning of this war were front-page items, with people clamoring to support our men and women in uniform. Now these articles are on the back pages with just a couple of sentences reporting our casualties. Why should it take a horrific event like this to remind us what these fine soldiers are up against?

SUSAN RIBAS

Los Angeles

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Although our administration’s unequivocal adoption of the Geneva Convention at this late date will not undo the deaths of American soldiers Kristian Menchaca and Thomas Tucker, it might at least honor them and make our condemnation of their treatment less hypocritical.

NORMAN PALLEY

Culver City

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Vice President Dick Cheney’s assertion that the Iraq war has been responsible for the absence of attacks in the U.S. since Sept. 11 (June 20) is as hyperbolic as his prewar characterization of Iraq’s weapons-of-mass-destruction threat. Not only is Cheney’s reasoning fallacious, it is incorrect given that the growing insurgency in Iraq does not make America safer. In its latest report to Congress on the progress in Iraq, the Department of Defense wrote that weekly insurgency attacks in Iraq increased between 2004 and now. Cheney’s reasoning eschews the most desirable outcome in Iraq for U.S. security: namely, an Iraq without war. Yet, the Bush administration stubbornly refuses to give any timetable for troop withdrawal to bring the war to an end, hence making the U.S. less -- not more -- safe.

GREG COX

Wheaton, Ill.