Questioning our presence in Iraq

Re “Close and deadly contact,” June 12

We are sending soldiers to walk the streets of Iraq’s cities like hulking Golems, not looking into people’s eyes but studying their clothing for bulges that could be bombs. Our people walk there as living chum, live bait to draw an unseen enemy’s fire. And then we condemn those people when their bullets find an innocent target on streets that are just as much battlefields as those of any war anywhere. What are we doing there? Who in his right mind even talks himself into thinking that there is some good in this horrific mission? Who gains by keeping this evil going?

If I wanted to make millions of people around the world hate us, I could not think of a better method. If I wanted to kill dozens of young Americans a week, I could not think of a worse way. Even their heroism is taken away in this awful undertaking.

DOUG STOKES

Duarte