Readers React: In battling Islamic State, Europe is paying for America’s mistake

To the editor: On the same day the Los Angeles Times ran its front-page article “U.S. to urge partners to do more to fight Islamic State amid complaints from Pentagon,” the New York Times also ran a front-page piece, “Terror Threats Thaw Budgets Across Europe.” The reports show together that although the U.S. may think it has taken an international lead in fighting Islamic State, Europe is actively fighting the group on its own home ground.

The elephant in the room is the U.S. culpability in unwittingly creating the breeding ground for Islamic State by crushing Iraq and changing the political landscape in the Middle East. For that, we have the George W. Bush administration to thank.

The U.S. is quick to criticize and meddle by asking the international community to do more, while dismissing that those countries are already fighting the havoc of our creation. The U.S. should continue to take the lead in trying to defeat Islamic State and stop complaining to allies who did not budget for our foreign policy mistakes.

William Goldman, Palos Verdes Estates

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook