To the editor:

A large majority of Americans oppose the Bush escalation in Iraq. Yet we continue to hear from the Republicans about how we are “comforting the enemy.” That if we don’t prevail in Iraq we will “fight them here.” And the worst, that allowing more of our kids to die in a pointless exercise somehow ennobles the deaths and sacrifices of those who went before.

Please. Despite all the rationales, all the hype, all the dire predictions, leaving Vietnam did not result in communism rolling across the Pacific and onto our shores. In fact, Vietnam is now our trading partner!

Iraq is no different. Those folks will settle their differences one way or another, whether we are there or not. In the end, it won’t make any difference to the United States except how many more of our kids get killed while we stand in the middle.

Make no mistake, terrorists will try what they will try against us either way. In fact, they arguably may try more against us because of our dogged involvement in Iraq.

Three years ago Bush wore his flight suit on the aircraft carrier and declared “mission accomplished.” OK. We went in for weapons of mass destruction, there were none, mission accomplished. We had to rid the world of the threat of Saddam, he’s dead, mission accomplished. We had to have free elections, there have been three, mission accomplished.

Remind your senators and representatives that the U.S. people are “the deciders.” Tell them you want us out NOW.

Doug Burger,

Lawrence