A look back at war

Re “Why we fought,” editorial, May 25

Thank you, thank you. The Memorial Day editorial makes me very proud of my L.A. Times. A shame that such a relative minute portion of people have the opportunity to read these profound -- and delusional -- reflections of past presidents.

Can’t compete with Susan Boyle, eh?

Philip J. Hilow

Sunland

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Your editorial is right about the U.S. fighting the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and World War II.

By contrast, World War I was a great blood bath. European countries fought to expand their empires. Vietnam was a war based on lies, and it killed about 55,000 Americans and millions of Vietnamese. President George W. Bush told us we fought in Iraq to destroy Saddam Hussein and his weapons of mass destruction. Six years later, with no WMD found, we are still fighting there and expanding the war in Afghanistan.

I volunteered in World War II but have worked against all wars since. War is not the answer.

Robert M. Peck

Pasadena

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I was quite disappointed that the editorial failed to include any presidential message on the Korean War, 1950-1953, which took the lives of about 40,000 Americans.

Like the Vietnam War, as stated in President Nixon’s quoted address, the Korean conflict was “fought for less selfish motives -- not for conquest, not for glory, but only for the right of a people far away to choose the kind of government they want.” Yet The Times failed to print an appropriate message from President Truman that reflected on the sacrifices made by those Americans who served in Korea.

It would appear that The Times is on board with the unfortunate national indifference to the “Forgotten War.”

Mark Weissman

Rancho Palos Verdes