The plan for Iraq

I AM no scholar of military matters, but I have changed my idea related to how many troops are needed in Iraq. US forces quickly and strategically took out Saddam Hussein's forces with the troops initially allocated. Regrettably, it's apparent that to hold ground, stabilize the country, and drive out, capture, or kill the insurgents, many more troops are needed. All the US armed forces have met their recruiting goals. I would suggest adding, if available, 100,000 troops in Iraq and 25,000 in Afghanistan.

To lose these conflicts would make the United States a laughingstock among Islamic fundamentalists. This would encourage horror to be unleashed on the United States, its territories, its embassies, and any other American presence in the world. These extremists do not just want to push the Western presence back. It is their goal to annihilate Western culture.

The Rev. EARL BARNETT
Speedwell, Tenn.

IN RESPONSE to ``Troop levels in Iraq could hold steady through 2010" (Page A1, Oct. 12): The majority of Iraqis want us out. Their death toll has risen with the occupation. The majority of Americans want us to get out of Iraq within the next year. The American death toll is relatively low for a war lasting 3 1/2 years, but the number of Americans who are maimed physically and psychologically is high. These are fine idealistic young people who will never have the happiness and life most of us take for granted.

If the reason for this war was to bring democracy to the Middle East, why not follow the will of the people in both countries? What kind of democracy do we have when our leaders ignore the will of the majority?

SUSAN STERN
Chestnut Hill

IN THE article ``Iraq pullout resolution on ballot" (Page A1, Oct. 11), Jonathan Saltzman and David Abel work hard at presenting differing points of view on a nonbinding resolution . Eric Fehrnstrom, a spokesman for the Romney administration, and Paul Eagan, a Vietnam veteran from South Boston, state opposition to a ``cut and run" policy on the war on terror in Iraq.

Let's be clear: This nonbinding ballot question allows 22 percent of the citizenry of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to weigh in on their opinion on the war. In no way does it remove decision-making power from the federal government.

As someone who has attended too many funerals for the fallen troops of Massachusetts, including that of my own kin, I believe that the liberty to assess the opinion of residents of this state is democracy in action. This is what these troops died for: democracy.

MELIDA ARREDONDO
Roslindale The writer, whose stepson, Alex, was killed in Iraq in 2004, was among volunteers who collected signatures for the ballot question.