Letter to the editor

As of this writing, the situation in Iraq has all the earmarks of a hopeless venture into never never land. The inability of all political and religious factions to form an all inclusive goverment becomes increasingly obvious and any chance of an American style democracy is so much wishful thinking on the part of Washington. The varied religious sects in that sorrowful country are stuck in a 'my way or the highway' mentality that shows absolutely no signs of forming a unified government. It would seem that the only role left for us is to hold the line to protect our troops until an honorable way can be found to get them out. Retreat with honor? That phrase comes uncomforably close to the "Peace with honor" Henry Kissinger laid on us at the end of our Vietnam involvement. We keep on being told that there is no correlation between Iraq and Vietnam, but its becoming more and more dificult to make the distinction. Would it be unreasonable to suggest that we spend the next decade or two dealing with problems here at home and stay out of other peoples business?

Good intentions and common sense don't always march hand in hand.

George Morin
Auburn