I am disappointed with the poor management of the Iraq war. If our government was a business or the military was a professional sports team, there would have been changes in management months ago. We keep doing the same thing and keep getting the same results. We occasionally tweak our strategy, but the results are always the same.

Even newspapers have relegated most reports on Iraq to inside sections. I have no clue why we are fighting or whom the enemy is, as neither has been clearly defined. Our mission is so vague that success or failure can never be measured and the entire conflict will probably become historically insignificant.

We elect a commander and chief of our armed forces every four years and grant him the authority to make military decisions on our behalf. Whether we approve or disapprove of his decisions, we are part of the decision-making process. Now that President Bush has his war funding bill, we will begin hearing more reasons for taking military action against Iran. This administration is running out of time and President Bush can no longer afford to be patient. We invaded Iraq because of a perceived threat from weapons of mass destruction. The same threat exists today with Iran and can only be eliminated through a physical inspection.

However, let us not forget that America is a democracy and President Bush was elected by the people, therefore, we all share responsibility for his military decisions and deserve what we get.

Bryan Smith

Old Town