U.S. losses in Iraq exceed 9/11 toll

Re “U.S. military deaths in Iraq hit 3,000 mark,” Jan. 1

It seems that President Bush has finally found his weapons of mass destruction. Sadly, it is us.

SCOTT MCCARTY

Camarillo

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More than 3,000 GIs are now dead -- that’s forever. Thousands more have been wounded, many maimed for life. We have spent billions of dollars, and some say the total price tag for Bush’s adventure in Iraq could go as high as $1 trillion. We cannot afford a real healthcare system, a real retirement system, and our educational system is in shambles. But we can flush our kids and treasure into the mess that is Iraq. So Saddam Hussein was executed, so what?

DENNIS M. FARLEY

San Dimas

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Now that we have lost more lives in Iraq than we did on 9/11, isn’t it time to call it even? However, this administration blithely seems to be seriously considering sacrificing more of our precious youth in a troop “surge” to die for a failed, immoral cause. Because this administration has shown such little competence in this area, we can only hope sincerely that our new Congress will force the pullout of troops that logic, history and morality demand.

HANK KOCOL

Roseville, Calif.