A preemptive strike in Iraq?

EVERYTHING in the history of that part of the world tells us that whether we end the occupation of Iraq in three weeks or three decades, the first week after we leave, the newly enfranchised citizens will destroy our embassy, take its employees hostage and hold it up as a symbol to the world of American arrogance (“A Bit of Suburbia Grows in Baghdad,” by Christopher Hawthorne, June 15). Let’s save time, money and embarrassment by selling the buildings and using the money to build a normal embassy, the same as we have in other countries, not an oversized monstrosity that will be a flashpoint for future demonstrations of anger against us.

HAROLD WALTER

Northridge