Little confidence in tactics in Iraq

Re “Bloodletting continues in Iraq’s south,” Oct. 24

President Bush wants us to focus on what he thinks should be the result in Iraq, while ignoring that his Iraq policy isn’t working. Conditions in Iraq continue to worsen with only occasional intervals of slight improvement in some areas; the overall trend is down. The Iraqi army and government are riddled with corruption and factions and show no desire or capability to control violence and create a Western-style democracy. Success is always 12 to 18 months in the future.

Tweaking an unworkable policy is a waste of American lives and money. Hoping that the Iraqis of their own accord will peaceably buy into a government acceptable to the United States is insanity. Either get enough American military power into Iraq to control the whole country and impose our will, or get out.

CHARLES FINCH

Huntington Beach

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Two weeks shy of elections, the White House announced a major policy shift on Iraq. “Stay the course” has officially gone the way of “Mission Accomplished” and “Wanted Dead or Alive,” and it will no longer be used in White House Iraq propaganda. Of course, “support the troops” and “cut and run” are still on the table for divisive purposes.

Sadly, this proves yet again that polls and ego are what drive President Bush, at the expense of American lives and sound policies.

I suggest a new mantra for Bush’s flock: “The thrill is gone.” As for me, Bush has made me “sick and tired of being sick and tired.”

TIM PFEIFER

Long Beach

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Re “Army is training advisors for Iraq,” Oct. 25

Pulling promising leaders out of troop units and training them as military advisors might make sense if the target were anywhere but Iraq. Unfortunately, this latest administration ploy again fails to acknowledge reality. In an area of raging sectarian, ethnic and religious zealotry, there is no sense of Iraqi nationhood on which to fasten a trained military or police.

All that more military instruction will do is feed better-trained militias into the ongoing civil strife. A more realistic move would be to open Saddam Hussein’s jail cell door as our troops board the planes for home. Suffice to say, the latest Bush “tactic” is more idiocy in pursuit of an illusion.

BILL HELWIG

Beaumont

The writer is a retired U.S. Army major.