What to make of Iraq involvement

Re “Assessing the war as 4th anniversary nears,” March 19

President Bush asked for patience in Iraq as we enter the fifth year of the war. I recall another call for patience. It was the United Nations requesting patience from the United States as weapons inspectors continued their search for nonexistent weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Bush ignored the U.N. plea and went to war. We should ignore his now and leave.

LARRY BERARDINO

Redondo Beach

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Re “Troop pullout plan fails in Senate, advances in House,” March 16

We are tired of hearing (and seeing) the phrase “the war.”

The actions in Iraq (we invaded it , correct?) are not a declared war. If everyone (including President Bush) is going to continue to call this “the war” or any form of title as “war,” then declare it. A war on terror doesn’t count as far as we are concerned.

The situation in Iraq may be a “conflict,” “takeover” or other such phrase, but it is not a war. Please stop calling it such.

STEVEN N. COPLEY

DENNIS D. RIDGE

Harbor City

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Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) stated: “If we leave Iraq before the job is done, as surely as night follows day, the terrorists will follow us home.”

Does he really believe that we will eliminate all the terrorists even if we remain in Iraq forever?

GEORGE KERSTER

Manhattan Beach

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It’s outrageous that politicians claim to support our troops and do not support that the troops be properly equipped, trained or rested.

ROBERT J. PIZZORNO

Torrance

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Re “Thousands join the protest in Hollywood,” March 18

It was sad to see this report on Saturday’s protest in Los Angeles tucked back on Page A15. Even more disturbing was the article itself. It didn’t capture the passion of the citizens there -- their heartfelt dismay over the war and the outrages of the administration.

Sure, there are always fringe characters, but they make up a minuscule percentage of intelligent, critically thinking citizens who are there actively participating in democracy. The article’s focus on the fringe does a disservice to the protesters, and to the readers who were not there, by giving the impression it was a silly event.

Also, giving the number of protesters by using police estimates without giving the organizers’ estimates is an omission that reveals the unbalanced slant of the article.

KAREN L. NILES

Huntington Beach