The similarities of Iraq and Vietnam

President Bush in a recent speech stated if we don't fight this war in Iraq now, we will eventually have to fight this war on American soil.

This is the same rhetoric we heard during the Vietnam war.

Well, look what happened in Vietnam. We lost the war and we were never attacked, as predicted, and today we have a normal and friendly relationships with Vietnam. What was the purpose of sacrificing 60,000 American lives in Vietnam?

We can never win the war in Iraq for the same reason we could never win in Vietnam.

As it turned out, it appears Iraq was not responsible for 9/11 or engaged in any kind of nuclear program. So much for U.S. intelligence, and the president.

The Iraq war is nearly bankrupting our country. Our children, grandchildren will be paying for this war. We even borrow from China to finance this war.

In the meantime, as a result of this war, the cost of living has increased significantly, and the war is making it difficult to fund greatly needed social and infrastructure programs.

Neither war was approved by the general public. It is unconscionable to tell the men in uniform that they are fighting for their country when in fact they are really fighting for the administration in power at the time.

We cannot depend on the president to keep us out of war or Congress to stop him.

We require a constitutional law that requires a direct approval by the voting public to engage, or to continue a military action, or to send troops overseas.

Victor Bernin

Mount Prospect