Letters: Apr. 8, 2002

The Afghan War's Bloodiest Battle

As I read about the battle in the Shah-i-Kot Valley in southeastern Afghanistan, I could not help wondering about American military "intelligence" [THE WAR, March 18]. Underestimating the enemy's numbers and not fully appreciating their will to fight, as well as relying upon local forces to carry out the combat, were aspects of the Vietnam conflict. Going after one or two injured or killed men has been tried in numerous wars, and the result is usually the same--more casualties. I'm not saying that it is right to leave bodies behind, but this obsession with retrieving American casualties is somewhat ridiculous. One cannot expect to win a war with a minimum number of casualties. BRETT TYRE Delta, B.C.

The cover photo of a U.S. soldier bundled up in the mountains of Afghanistan gave me a strong sense of appreciation for the sacrifice that so many people are making. I am not an advocate of violence or war, but I fully understand that we had no choice in this instance. As I travel the world, I realize we are incredibly lucky here in the U.S., and it amazes me how many people try to find fault with our country instead of showing appreciation. No society is perfect, but we sure have a lot to be thankful for. PETER BURWASH Carmel Valley, Calif.

I am not a soldier. I am sure, however, that all military leaders would call the battle for Shah-i-Kot a crushing defeat for al-Qaeda. Even if we estimate conservatively that 480 al-Qaeda fighters were killed (at the price of eight Americans) over the course of an intense battle, a kill ratio of 60 to 1 is the stuff of martial dreams. Seven of the men died owing solely to our very difficult decision to leave no Americans behind. A redoubtable enemy with suicidal tendencies was routed. This was not a U.S. debacle, and it certainly wasn't Mogadishu redux. HARRY JONES Dallas

This battle should have been called a massacre. To place troops, no matter how highly trained, in a field of mortar fire and grenades to face an enemy in fortified caves was unpardonable. The commanders of the U.S. troops don't know their military tactics. A small atom bomb should have been used to clean out the rat's nest of al-Qaeda fighters. I would not be as gracious as some parents who say their son died doing what he wanted to do. In my view, many of these young folks died when they should have lived. GEORGE L. HENSON JR. Plant City, Fla.

As a candidate, George W. Bush was opposed to nation building and military intervention without clearly stated mission goals and extraction plans, but now he's involving us in exactly those things. The Philippines, Georgia, Yemen, Iraq--Bush is putting together a war without end. He may not have learned any lessons from Vietnam, but he did master the key one from his father's last election, and he is determined to see that the war continues until after Election Day. JEFFREY J. MARIOTTE San Diego