Gives condolences but sees 'Vietnam all over again'

Regarding the tragic death of yet another American soldier in Iraq, my condolences go out to the Thousand Oaks family of Lance Cpl. Anthony C. Melia, who was tragically killed in Iraq.

Now with the total number of American soldiers killed in Iraq at over 3,000 and with only more body bags to come our way, does anyone here in Thousand Oaks think that it might just be time to realize that Bush's policy is and has been severely flawed? Does anyone think that maybe they just voted for the wrong guy in 2000 and again in 2004?

Let's look at some facts. Bush initially claimed that Saddam had "weapons of mass destruction," so we fell for his load of bull and voted for the war. Then when we found out the truth, that Saddam had nothing but a water squirt gun, Bush changed his reason for invading Iraq to "saving the Iraqi people from a brutal dictator," i.e., "Operation Iraqi Freedom."

Then when Iran sent guerilla fighters into Iraq to sabotage the operation, Bush changed the name of the war again to the "War on Terror."

Now how was it that Saddam was able to keep the terrorists out of Iraq for almost three decades but Bush cannot even keep our troops safe?

Perhaps as bad as he was, Saddam was actually a better leader for Iraq than Bush. At least Saddam was our ally when he was fighting Iran in the 1980s. Saddam served as the balance of power in the region so that Iran wouldn't get any big ideas about expansion and developing their own weapons of mass destruction that may prove to be the real thing. Saddam was a punk, but he posed no threat to the U.S. Iran now does, thanks to the decision by Bush to invade Iraq.

It's Vietnam all over again, courtesy of the "decider."

To the numbskulls in Thousand Oaks and everywhere who voted for this war monger, I hope you're happy, because you're getting exactly what you deserve: no brains, no leadership, lots of war, plenty of dead Americans and a bankrupt nation.
Douglas Crocket
Thousand Oaks