Bush’s Iraq strategy comes under fire

In his speech Wednesday at Annapolis, President Bush said, “As Iraqi forces grow more capable, they are increasingly taking the lead in the fight.” Does he not realize that his own generals estimate the insurgency itself is over 80% Iraqi? Does he fail to comprehend the situation is more complex than he makes it appear? This is not cowboys and Indians, Mr. President. Either the president is a moron, or he thinks I am. I’m not sure which is worse.

RUSSELL KUSSMAN

Pacific Palisades

*

Too bad Bush was not honest with the American people before the Iraqi invasion. Now, in his “National Strategy for Victory in Iraq” he states, “It is not realistic to expect a fully functioning democracy, able to defeat its enemies and peacefully reconcile generational grievances, to be in place less than three years after Saddam [Hussein] was finally removed from power.” As I recall, the administration predicted before the invasion that the troops would be out within six months, at the most a year.

JEAN STRAUBER

Encino

*

Anybody remember when presidents addressed ordinary Americans, not just stacked and prescreened audiences? Apparently Bush can’t handle challenges to his point of view, or anything less than guaranteed applause.

TIM PAINE

Studio City

*

The common analogy between the war in Iraq and Vietnam is incorrect. The U.S. is not fighting a unified nationalist resistance. The U.S. invasion of Iraq has created bloody chaos analogous to conflicts in Lebanon or Somalia. Perhaps Bush will consider the U.S. responses in those two cases -- immediate withdrawal.

JIM DEVINE

Torrance

*

When you say you’re against the Iraq war, people say you’re not supporting the soldiers. Hey, I support firefighters, but you don’t see me starting forest fires to prove it.

DOUG HAMBLIN

Valley Village