Lessons to be learned on Iraq

Re “Exit strategy,” editorial, Nov. 9

There’s a reason why we’re messing up in Iraq. It’s the same reason we’re messing up in Afghanistan. For that same reason, we messed up in Iran. The reason is Americans do not understand the Middle Eastern mind. They never have.

My family is from Iran. We know. Americans do not understand that iron-fisted dictators are a necessity in those places. Americans do not understand that the Middle Eastern mind is not wired for a democratic lifestyle, recognizing a woman’s equality to a man, the separation of church and state or even independent thought. Those few who are truly free-minded simply leave the Middle East. And, worst of all, Americans do not understand that it is beyond our means to effect change in the Middle Eastern mind. We need to wake up to reality. We need to get out of there and leave them to their iron-fisted dictators -- before the cost bankrupts us.

ARTHUR SAGINIAN

Saugus

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Re “Three sides of ‘Who lost Iraq?’ ” Opinion, Nov. 7

Andrew J. Bacevich’s polemic is a little premature. Iraq is not “lost,” but the issue is plainly in play. The question of whether we should have gone there is no longer relevant -- we’re there. What is relevant is that we must find a way to educate the Kurds, Sunnis and Shiites that Iraq itself is more important than their centuries-old squabbles. We need to take the gloves off and win -- which would also contribute to the education of Iran and North Korea. Is George Santayana to be completely ignored? Does history mean nothing? Is the fall of President Bush more important than the fate of the Western world?

GEORGE T. BEDWAY

Winchester, Va.

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Bacevich mentions several theories about why the U.S. has not won the Iraq war. But he fails to address the more basic issue of whether we should have invaded Iraq at all. Iraq was an independent country with the right to self-determination and should have been treated as such.

If we wanted to bring change in Iraq, we should have used other means: diplomacy, coordinated international pressure, encouragement of internal democratic groups, economic incentives.

Vietnam should have taught us that social change cannot be brought about by the U.S. military. This only generates reaction and our ultimate defeat -- not to mention chaos in the country we are ostensibly trying to help. Now we have a second lesson.

CHARLES CRITTENDEN

Lake View Terrace