Inbox

The Long Goodbye
Although Michael Duffy's thoughts on "How to Walk Away" from Iraq made sense, I beg to differ with him on the timing and pace of withdrawing troops [July 30]. While it is crucial that they leave in an orderly fashion, the sooner they depart, the better. A U.N. task force should be assigned to guard Iraq's borders and prevent a regional conflict. Iraq's neighbors and the world powers should launch an intensive diplomatic effort to help the Iraqis sort out their disagreements. They are best qualified to construct the democratic unified nation they aspire to after Saddam Hussein.
Samih A. Sherif,
Montreux, Switzerland

I had hoped that with constant pressure, President George W. Bush would do what most Americans have come to believe is right: bring the U.S. troops home. But my hopes dimmed after reading the cover story. Although congressional Democrats and the majority of Americans may demand a withdrawal, it is not going to happen before Bush leaves office in January 2009. His Administration is operating on the premise that it is worth every cost to avoid anything that could cause a war among Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, all top oil producers.
Olutayo Oluyemi,
New York City

The enemies of democracy thrive on its rationality and willingness to compromise. Al-Qaeda was so emboldened by the weak response to attacks on U.S. troops in Lebanon (1983) and Somalia (in the 1990s) that it dared launch the suicide missions of 9/11. The U.S. must stay the course because if it retreats from Iraq, all enemies of freedom, especially al-Qaeda and its admirers, will become more adventurous. In addition, those religious zealots will claim Islam as one of their tragic victims.
Husam Dughman,
Toronto

Why is it that with our tons of multimillion-dollar weapons and equipment, from tanks to helicopters to drones, we can't seem to defeat the insurgents who have none of this technology? Your sidebar "Moving Mountains" showed that the old weapons and warfare are no longer viable. When a $10 pipe bomb can blow up a humvee or Bradley vehicle, it just shows the whole world that our concept of warfare has been a colossal mistake. Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's plan has turned out to be a waste of lives and treasure.
John Holland,
Anaheim, Calif., U.S.

We should model our troop withdrawal on the British pullout from Dunkirk in 1940. Commandeer everything that flies and floats. Do it under cover of smoke and tear gas or fighter escort if necessary. Burn the equipment, but get the soldiers out now. Dunkirk was a defeat for the Brits, but the spirit that emerged from the rescue operation galvanized them for ultimate victory. We might claim some of that spirit by rescuing our soldiers right away.
Doug Dix,
Bloomfield, Conn., U.S.

This debacle is the result of the superarrogant Bush Administration, acting until recently with virtually no oversight by a compliant Congress. The sooner this Administration and its passive enablers in Congress are out of office, the sooner we will find the means to extricate ourselves from this fiasco. May Bush go back to Texas and never be heard from again except as a very bad history lesson.
John Griffin,
Walnut Creek, Calif., U.S.

Duffy stated that "Americans Want the Troops Brought Home." While this is obviously true (nobody wants a son, daughter, husband or wife involved in a war), what Americans desire even more is victory. Without victory, every sacrifice made by U.S. servicemen and -women and their families will be pointless. Wars are not won easily. We have an enemy that has vowed to destroy us. If radical Islamists are not defeated, they will continue to attack us. If we fail, more Americans will die. Victory is precious, defeat devastating, and it takes time to fully achieve the former.
Travis Sides,
Denver

Duffy's recommendations are so similar to those of the Iraq Study Group that it is heartbreaking. We could be halfway through the painful troop withdrawal if the Bush Administration had simply listened to the experts on that bipartisan commission. Meanwhile, China continues its economic growth, gleefully holding our enormous debt, which finances the Iraq debacle. Our economic future frightens me far more than the insecurity of the Middle East.
Sharon R. Clark,
Mammoth Lakes, Calif., U.S.