The problem isnt Iraq, it isnt Al Qaida, the problem is George W Bush. By continually characterising the situation in Iraq as a Win or Lose situation for the US, Bush is ensuring it is a lose situation. Of course he does this bolster support at home, but his rhetoric also bolsters opposition abroad, who can forget his "bring it on challenge", or his statement that he would rather fight Al Qida in Iraq. This rhetoric doesn't help the Iraqis, it results in greater violence and therefore inevitably lower support in the US. A wiser policitian would characterise the situation as the US helping the country to settle down with the US having no stake in the outcome other than peace. The US is being led down the path to a defeat by the buffoon who designed the rules of the game, a game in which has no winning move for the US.

John W, Oldham,

The ultimate and most shameless perversion of a fact established over 30 years back , that the US had to flee like beaten dogs because all their technology and manpower could not prevail among an alien people in their own country. As for Cambodia, if the US had not engineered the first coup against Sihanouk, and not bombed the country gratuitously during the Vietnam war, it is less than likely that Pol Pot would ever have achieved the absolute power he did. Finally, the South Vietnamese left behind by the US were a bigger indictment of US chicanery than of Vietnamese vengefulness. In fact, that country has not only remained more peacefully democratic but also conspicuously forgiving of US depradations (no doubt partly mollified by the sincere efforts of many former GIs to make personal and private reparations).

Monty Gosse, Calcutta, India

I see only Anti-Bush views are printed - how very liberal!

Janel, W.Washington, USA

Perhaps another brain faded spin from a guy who is not smart enough to operate a machine war situation with machines, technologic prowess, and simple "Hold & Fold" strategies burdened upon the enemy.

Wahington dc can tend to operate like it's the kromagnum age rather than the 21st century.

Iraq simply happens to be the most invisible current example.

Mark Wright, Magic Valley, USA/NM

Bush and his cronies say that we Americans who disagree with him are unpatriotic. It's the opposite. I loathe him and his awful war because I love my country. Reading these comments, I am infuriated and ashamed to see the damage he has done to America, especially with our friends in Europe. I am ashamed of all the deaths. Wars should be fought only when absolutely necessary, and Iraq is, unfortunately, an arrogant war of choice. I think that Americans will come to view these years as a very bleak and regrettable time in our history.

Chris, Rochester, Michigan, USA

Mr Bush seems to be leaving on another planet, perhaps the Moon... His remarks about Vietnam & Cambodia reveals just how ignorant they are...

Vladimir, Milton Keans, UK

To " Me, Manchester"
You should study finnish history again from 1940. (If you ever did?) No hard feelings.

Helena Mathys, Hameenlinna, Finland

Hi,
i'm 18 and i am french, i think that this war is only for the Oil of Irack. The President prefers said that he wanted to save iraquish people, but first he sould save amercian people who don't have anything to eat.

Frasse , Marseille ( France),

ultimately, this parallel is sad as it is historically inappropriate and it fels like one more attempt to shift public attention to the events, which are clearly exposing the consequencies of an unlawful invasion of a foreign country for basic businness gains.
I am just sory for the families of those perishing for the greed of a small few.

Andrea da londra, Londra, United Kingdom

There still seems to be far too much beating around the bush as to why the US and UK had to go to war in Iraq in 2003.
It would be simpler if we could now for the first time be told the truth, the full truth, and nothing but the truth ,as to what this whole Middle East fiasco has really been all about.
At then we would know whether or not the troops need to stay there.

Michael Blatchford, Bath, UK

Bush seem to know a lot of history.
Ha! then why he brought the US to the war?

d, sprinfell,

It appears to me that this mental midget (W) missed out on a lot more than being in danger when he managed to avoid service during the Viet Nam conflict. I suppose that was during the time when he was 'under the influence' more than not.

To me, the lesson we should have learned was not to get involved in quagmires like this in the first place. I hearken to a phrase popular among those of us who served in the theater:

We, the unwilling, led by the unqualified, to do the impossible for the ungrateful....

Here we are again. Support our troops in the best way possible-bring them home

David Kimmel, Bourbonnais, IL

to Deodhar
I think this statement means that countries which are incapable of embracing democracy must be bombed by A-bomb first, just for better compliancy. I shouldn't be wondered if Bush will give such argument next to justify Iraq intervention.

Anton, Ryazan, Russia

ok,so let the us army stay in irak as long as it stayed in vietnam.now that's a wise decision...

haly, petroville,

President Bush is right on the parallels of Vietnam and Iraq......but for all of the wrong reasons.
I am more deeply saddened that unlike the era of the 60's and 70's, the current generations of Americans are passive at a time when our government has been hijacked, and the need for patriots has never been greater.
At what point, I wonder, will the American people awake to the dangers Bush has placed our country in? The next election will not help....It is more of the same, just different clothing.

m.J., Iowa, U.S.A.

Wasn't it Winston Churchill (Bush's idol) who said that the Americans can be trusted to do the right thing after all other avenues had been exhausted?

They have proved time and time agin that they cannot be trusted with the Globe. I hate to say this but no wonder Al Quaida exist as they are the only ones to stand up to the Yanks.

Swinky, London, UK

Ahhhhh, good old Finland. Perhaps we should have left your world in peace (or perhaps that's pieces) in the 1940s. How's your Russian, by the way?

Me, Manchester,

Hang on. Wasnt it actually the Vietnamese that ousted Pol Pot's regime and stopped the Killing Fields?

Steve, London, England

Mr Bush also cited South Korea and Japan in his call to stand firm in Iraq. He said many in Washington after World War II believed Japan was incapable of embracing democracy and that the Korean War was a worthless struggle. “The advance of freedom in these lands should give us confidence that the hard work we are doing in the Middle East can have the same results we have seen in Asia – if we show the same perseverance and sense of purpose."*

Does Bush really wants us to believe that the world wouldn't have experienced democracy had America not existed??

Ashish Deodhar, Mumbai, India

Well Bush has now good reasons to justify his Iraq misadventure. Bush still believes that the price is still payable by Americans to hold on to Baghdad. Even a fool could see that the Iraqi resistance is "nputdownable"

Prasanta Debnath, Tinsukia, India, Assam

I want to ask Bush, how do you define "success"? Bush says the troops on the ground is near success and must be continuously supported. But for many, we are beyond achieving "success." Many see the war as lost already... success is out of the question when the loss is at a staggering 3,721. Who gives a damn about military success if it comes at this cost? All we have now to consider is how to exit Iraq without leaving the country in turmoil. It's a paramount task, but thanks to the Bush administration a task that nonetheless needs to be done.

Aaron Seong, Milton, United States

to Helena,
Making a mess in one's own country is not a valuable activity. making mess in other countries is very much profitable...

Mike, Moscow,

The war on terrorism has evolved into a war between two Evils, on one side is the American Right Neocons with support of the Controllers of American Money and Media which is the Head of Evil, they controls the American Politicians and Public opinion, anyone not following the lies and opinions being put forward, and having a different view, is tarred and labeled as anti Semitic and anti American and a traitor. Over 70 percent Americans understand the dilemma they are in but are helpless in front of the power of these Evil force. The opposing Evils is Islamic Fascists Terrorists a bye product of the manipulations of the first Evil, they are hated by over 95 percent of Muslims for propagating a twisted interpretation of Islam. The only alternative left for all peace loving people in the world is to let these TWO Evils fight it out and not stop them. Once these Evils who are in a no WIN War are weakened and exhausted by this fight, we will have a better world to live.

Kamil Mian, London,UK,

Perhaps the saddest thing about Mr. Bush's remarks is that so few in the U.S. listen to him anymore. He's become an almost "non-president," more irrelevant than lame-duck.

Arthur, Boston, USA

Mr Bush seems to have got confused about what came first - the chicken or the egg...!

Rod Munch, Northampton, UK

Your article opens with the words:-

"The Middle East would face a generation of bloodshed and
dangerous upheaval if the US quit Iraq in haste" attributed to President Bush.

Just what does Bush think has been happening their these past few years as a result of US 'intervention' and other meddling in other countries' affairs?

Next time Bush is on TV spouting off, look carefully above the shoulders and head, you can definitely see the very fine strings being pulled.

karlo, Northwich, Cheshire

Vietnam!!! An other mistake from USA. A big mistake. USA should leave the rest of the world in peace. Make a mess in your bloody country and leave us alone.

Helena Mathys, Hameenlinna, Finland