The Iraq war’s fifth anniversary

Re “Iraq: Five years of war,” Column One, March 19

President Bush proclaims success in Iraq? Who is he kidding? Nearly 4,000 dead American soldiers, thousands more badly injured, more than 150,000 American soldiers tired of war. Billions spent foolishly, like the money he gives to Iraq insurgents to wage civil war on each other.

Yet, he proclaims victory. For whom?

Certainly not the Iraqi people, as hundreds of thousands of them have died. Certainly not the American economy, thrown into a wicked tailspin from foolish overspending as Bush lavishes no-bid contracts on his friends.

Perhaps a victory for the oil companies and the contractors, and the terrorists, who grow stronger every day in spirit, as the oppression and occupation by Americans fuels their fire.

Steve Wimer

San Bernardino

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It has been five years since the start of the illegal war in Iraq, and its human and financial costs soar each day.

As the United States faces recession and the dollar falls, we continue to spend millions of dollars each day on the war, leaving less money for the essentials at home, such as housing, education and healthcare. While the corporations get rich and the government bails out corporations that have mismanaged their funds, average Americans struggle with higher costs of most goods while real wages decline.

Our Democratic-controlled Congress has not stepped up to the plate but has continued to fund the war, refusing to take a stand on holding Bush accountable on the war.

The cost of the war in human and financial terms is unfathomable.

Stop the madness; end the war.

I long to be a proud American again.

Laurie Boyer

Los Angeles