Check out the letters to the editor from this Florida newspaper

[NNN0LHI]

Here is a sample:

http://www.news-press.com/news/opinion/040419bag.html

Falling into the abyss

It’s time to face the truth. For years we refused to face it over Vietnam, and we are now in denial over the situation in Iraq. The truth is that the task we have set ourselves is too difficult and not worth the cost, not in money, and especially not in American lives. These are wars we should never have gotten into in the first place. Neither country posed a threat to U.S. national security. Both wars were sold to the American people under false pretenses.

We stayed in Vietnam long after it became clear that our objectives were unattainable because our government didn’t want to admit mistakes, didn’t want to admit that thousands of American soldiers had died in vain. We are now in danger of falling into the same abyss in Iraq. Anyone who believes the United States can create some sort of stable democracy there is woefully underestimating ethnic distrust and the power and determination of religious extremists.

Suppose, after much violence and many deaths on all sides, we do get the Iraqis to the polls. What happens if election results bring to power a government hostile to U.S. interests? Will we still believe it was all worthwhile? If we were to topple such a regime, as we surely would be tempted to do, we would justly be labeled hypocrites in every corner of the globe.

RAY W. CLASEN, North Fort Myers

[peacetalksforall]

1. I can't stop thinking about that last paragraph...

What a valid question...

It translates that Iraq will be a territory of the U.S. forever, until they become a state using the logic of the necessity of regime change.