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A time of mourning for our fallen heroes

By letters to the edtior
Published January 10, 2007

Our Fallen Jan. 7, photos of Floridians who have died in Iraq 

Thank you for taking the time and space to pay tribute to these heroes. No matter how one feels about the war in Iraq, we cannot discount these brave men and women who "did the right thing."

I felt compelled to look at each and every picture and read each and every vignette. In deep gratitude, I mourn for each one of them and for their families.

Mary Miller, New Port Richey

No more deaths

Our Fallen Jan. 7

As I looked at the pictures and read about these brave young men and women, I could only cry. We in Florida have lost 142 people to this war. There does not seem to be an end in sight, and no real plan. As one listens to the administration and other leaders, it is understood that they do not have the answer.

For many, their lives were only beginning, but they ended in a foreign land, dying for no real purpose. No matter what our leaders say, it is time to bring our soldiers home.

I am sorry that we ever went into Iraq, and perhaps we have some responsibility for what is happening, but please do not send more of our young people to die. It is time that the leaders of this great nation sit down and come up with a solution to the Iraq problem and bring our boys and girls home.

I do not want to open my paper next year and read about how many more people the state of Florida has lost.

LaTreetha E. Sharpley, Spring Hill

Send a message 

Our Fallen Jan. 7

After praying for the souls of the dead heroes in this section of Sunday's Times, as well as for their mourning families and friends, we should all mail our copy to: Current Occupant, White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, D.C.

Jack Wilhite, Clearwater

Surge will make things worse

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., stated in a Sunday talk show (NBC's Meet the Press) that a "surge" of 20,000 or more additional combat troops injected into Baghdad was essential to prevent a calamitous explosion in the Middle East. Unfortunately, the opposite is true.

President Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq as an essential requirement for our war on terror. We first went into Afghanistan to destroy al-Qaida and its leadership.

It is undeniable that al-Qaida has since shifted its focus for recruitment and training in Iraq. Young Sunni men in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria have flocked to assist their fellow Sunnis in Iraq. Concern has risen that these trained men are spreading throughout the world.

The "surge" is not directed at Muqtada al-Sadr's slum militia, which is estimated to number 60,000 and has received money, equipment and training from Iran. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is beholden to them and prevents our acting against them.

But let's assume that the "surge" reduces the Sunni insurgency in Baghdad and that the Sadr's Mahdi Army is successful in "ethnic cleansing" of Sunni in Baghdad. Will this prevent further build-up of al-Qaida or prevent other Sunni intervention? How much infrastructure, mosques and universities will be destroyed? How many professionals, leaders and intelligentsia will be executed? The civil war will go on! The Middle East will become involved! General war could ensue!

Let's profit from the Yugoslavia experience and assist in a confederation as urged by former Ambassador Peter Galbraith, Sen. Joe Biden and others. We can provide resettlement for the Sunnis and seek Syrian assistance, and our troops remain in limited occupation or standby to accomplish this objective.

Bruce Marger, St. Petersburg

Still off course

It seems that President Bush's new plan for a troop surge in Iraq is nothing more than an extended commitment to his already tired and failed "stay the course" strategy.

Between Bush's plans for our military forces in Iraq, and his unwavering loyalty to an Iraqi prime minister whose job is proving far too advanced for him, any and all present plans for success in Iraq seem more doomed than not.

Regardless of all the "now we really are doing something" rhetoric, I no longer believe in these leaders or their mind games. I don't believe that either Bush or Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki knows what he is doing, and neither seems to know what it is he should be doing.

It's time for Bush, at least, to heed some fresh advice for a change and put the brakes on his ceaseless stubbornness, agreeing only with those who agree with him.

I just hope he can bring himself to listen to some reasoning, as presented by our new Congress. Doing so may bring some new hope for the future of Iraq and the Middle East.

Anne Marie Jorgensen, St. Petersburg

Shopping for generals

Prior to the start of the war in Iraq, Gen. Anthony Zinni and others recommended that we commit at least 300,000 troops to the mission. President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld decided (there's that magical presidential word) that the job could be completed satisfactorily with substantially fewer troops by using "shock and awe." When the generals wouldn't agree the Bush-Cheney-Rumsfeld triumvirate went "general shopping" until they found a cadre of commanders who would prosecute the war with fewer troops. We won the opening battle, but we are losing the war.

Now, the administration has decided (there's that word again) that the solution to the debacle in Baghdad is a "surge" in the number of troops. Gens. John Abizaid and George Casey disagree. Once again, Bush and Cheney have gone "general shopping" and are replacing the generals who were in place and familiar with the situation with commanders who will accede to the Bush-Cheney understanding of the situation. Here we go again!

Palmer O. Hanson Jr., Largo

Beyond repair

The Iraq egg is broken and all of King George's men and all of King George's horses will not be able to put it back together again.

God save us from the king.

John Burrell, Tampa

Officially inept 

Army asks dead officers to re-enlist Jan. 6, story

Our government is asking our disabled and our dead service personnel to re-enlist. Our government has no idea where our war funds are going. Who are they going to, and what for? Our government can't account for arms and ammunition, who got them and where they went.

And we wonder why we are having problems in Iraq?

It seems the only people who know what they are doing are the terrorists. They have our whole country fighting each other. "Divide and conquer."

Donald F. Kelly, St. Petersburg

Deadly bumbling 

Iraq made monster a victim Jan. 5, opinion by Charles Krauthammer

The process to dispatch Saddam Hussein was botched from the start. The Bush administration wanted their show trial and it backfired on them. This is not a surprise considering their history to date in Iraq.

Remember, the Nuremberg trials began after the war. They were dignified with exhaustive evidence gathering. It's an insult to compare the Saddam Hussein trial debacle to Nuremberg. In this trial, one group of murderers and thugs replaced another. These are the people we are spilling American blood for. Congratulations, President Bush.

In the meantime, the American toll of death and serious injuries continues.

Can this nation survive the Bush administration? I'll pray on it.

Marc Yacht, M.D., Hudson

A bad fit 

Size 18? Here, try a size 12 Jan. 4, Floridian story

I am an 82-year-old, 85-pound female who can no longer find clothes suitable for my age and size. Gave up shopping at Belk's, some time ago, because they no longer carry anything in my size 2, and even size 4 is not available.

My favorite place to shop has been Beall's, but I can no longer find my sizes there. Shopping in the junior's department is not an option because at 82 I am not into wearing hip huggers or tops that show off cleavage.

I am not alone in this problem.

Regardless of my age, I am not ready to retire to a rocking chair. I still live a very active life, with golfing, gardening and several volunteer jobs.

June Heath, Brooksville

[Last modified January 10, 2007, 05:28:46]