Having spent thirteen months in Vietnam during in 1967 through 1968 during the Tet Offensive, other than staying alive, the significance was beyond me. Since then, time has allowed me only one conclusion, we should never have been in Vietnam nor should we be in Iraq.

Now I realize that our country is a plutocracy, so duty means the job of the masses is only to serve and protect the wealth of the elite.

As things stand, it is quite right for the Vice President to say “so”.

Lee Rossavick

Potter Valley, CA

It takes a lot of balls, or in Bush's case, cowardice, to send young men and women to do his dirty deed in Iraq, while Bush never lifted a finger to defend his country.

The Bush/Cheney arrogance is criminal, their actions, insane and their cowardice, second to none. Hell has a spot reserved for these two criminals.

Pete Miles

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Sir, after reading your article, I'd like to offer a simple comment. On the whole, I find your statements accurate and worthy of consideration. However, I would like to point out one particular statement which I believe to be demonstrably false.

You state, "The antiwar movement notwithstanding, public support for the war in Vietnam remained strong until February 1968, after the Tet Offensive gave the lie to promises of light at the end of the tunnel."

According to statements from virtually all senior North Vietnamese leaders (Le Duc To, Giap, Le Duan, etc), the North was on the verge of suing for peace after the unmitigated disaster they experienced during the '68 Tet Offensive. The unavoidable fact of the matter is that light was most certainly at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately, the media and therefor, the public completely misread what had occurred and a tremendous opportunity was lost.

As someone who did fight in that war, I have spent some time educating myself on the subject. One thing that seems clear to me is, the American people supported our involvement in Vietnam, that is until ever pessimistic assessments by the media convinced them victory was impossible.

Richard Montgomery

Palm Bay, Florida

"... why has it never been deemed proper for reporters to ask if the President has encouraged his two military-aged daughters to trade their Manolo Blahniks for combat boots?"

One might ask the same question of every Senator and member of the House who voted for giving Cheney/Bush the authority to invade and occupy Iraq, but whose offspring remain safe and prosperous, enjoying civilian life stateside. And that would certainly include Hillary Clinton.

Only a small handful of our war-touting politicians have sons or daughters in the military.

So?

R.H.Weber

Geneva, Switzerland