Support for War Cools, but Tempers Do Not

Re “Support for War in Iraq Hits New Low,� Times poll, Jan. 19: What I find most encouraging is not that most Americans now believe that the Iraqi invasion was not worth the effort, but that 52% now say we should leave when that move is requested by the Iraqi government.

However, evaluating that request will pose a problem. It may come not as a formal statement by Iraq’s newly elected leaders but in the form of increased attacks on U.S. personnel and the infrastructure we are attempting to build. I hope that this will not get America’s back up, because this type of message is as real as anything written on a piece of paper.

We have won the war in Iraq, but we cannot win the peace. Only Iraqis can accomplish that, and it will probably come through the spilling of a great deal of blood.

Bob Winners

Glendale

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The Times poll indicating a fall in the approval rating for the war in Iraq relies upon the wrong demographic. The polling should be limited to the families of the dead and wounded soldiers and civilians. It is presumptuous at best to believe that we have the right to offer an opinion on a subject requiring the death of others. If we could ask the dead for their opinion on President Bush and Iraq, the approval rating would be zero.

Kevin Park

Agoura Hills

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Re your poll on Iraq -- OK, it’s history. Get over it.

Please stop chewing on the weapons-of-mass-destruction issue. I believe that we did what was right at the time based on our best interpretation of the information we had at that time. Your incessant Monday-morning quarterbacking is very divisive.

Naturally, as in every war, people want the troops home as soon as possible. That’s no surprise. Quit acting as though it is.

And, though you casually mention the tenor of today’s polls, why not make the leap forward from casual to emphasize the truth, i.e., that most Americans still want us to stay in Iraq until the new government can protect itself.

Let’s stop fueling the minds of the insurgents and murderers in Iraq.

Bill Gourlay

Westlake Village

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Re the Jan. 19 photo on Page A5, “Nighttime Anguish�: A picture worth a thousand words! Everyone who sees this should cut it out and send it to the president.

The blood-splattered, wailing little girl [whose parents were killed] and the soldier’s leg and boot tell the whole story. She is learning all about democracy. God help us all.

Phyllis P. Lilly

Ridgecrest

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Imagine that we had not invaded Iraq but instead completed our mission in Afghanistan against a true aggressor. Imagine that we had not lost more than 1,300 wonderful young Americans, thousands of innocent Iraqi men, women and children, and fanned the flames of hatred in the Arab world. Imagine we had not created a quagmire that will be so difficult to extricate ourselves from without the loss of more precious lives.

Would our freedom be threatened? I imagine not!

Al Haberstroh

Westlake Village