Writers Square Off on Iraq, Invoking Historic Moments

Re “Baghdad’s Boys Join Lord Haw Haw and Hanoi Jane,” Commentary, Oct. 1:

Shame on you, George Will, for comparing Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) to Lord Haw Haw and Jane Fonda. Rather than swallow the stuff dished out by Washington spin doctors, McDermott and other congressmen independently set out to seek the facts. It would not hurt Will to follow their example. Sure, Saddam Hussein will try to renege on his word, but there are ways to hold his feet to the fire. And if those measures don’t work, then we can still go to war. Mr. Will, you may be the gullible one this time.

John DeYulia

Nipomo, Calif.

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All the political experts out there who are critical of President Bush’s approach to Iraq will learn that dealing from strength is a good thing. The fact that he does not show Iraq weakness will ultimately lead to his success in the matter. The Democrats on the Hill only serve to make the matter worse, as they give Hussein the thought that he will not have to pay for his indiscretions.

Riley Perry

Los Angeles

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Re “The Sun Can’t Set on This Empire Too Soon,” Commentary, Oct. 1: Wasn’t the fall of the Roman Empire followed by a more than 1,000-year power vacuum notable mainly for its misery and ignorance, punctuated by countless wars between countless barbaric governments--a period regularly referred to as the Dark Ages? Does Robert Scheer wish upon us the Darkest Ages, notable for the rampages of numerous pestilence-spewing villains akin to Hussein, where all social order collapses in the wake of biological and nuclear attacks by unknown and unknowable petty agents of chaos?

Charles P. Watling

Ventura

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Bravo to Scheer for bringing up the R-word: Romans. As I recall, the Roman Empire’s demise was attributed to three major factors: overexpansion based on military might; erosion of an already inequitable tax system, placing more burden on the poor; and the barbarians. Replace “barbarians” with “terrorists” and you have the spitting image of the U.S. as we march into war under Emperor Bush and his tax cut for the rich.

Mark Anthony Galluzzo

Venice

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The Times has shown a surprising sense of irony in placing Scheer’s and Will’s columns next to each other. Scheer reaches new levels of addressing America with a derisive, dismissive and (continuing his D-grade writing) defeatist approach. Will, in discussing the failings of three American congressmen in a factual, straightforward manner, could have just as easily been addressing Scheer when he concluded that for such liberals, “The world is too good for the United States.”

Chuck McVey

Huntington Beach

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Scheer’s and Will’s commentaries each offer a perspective on administration policy toward Iraq. Scheer offers verifiable facts and historic records. Will offers name-calling and character assassination. I find facts and records far more persuasive.

Gordon H. Marion

Hacienda Heights