In response to your editorial, “Surging into Iraq … (Jan. 5),” committing another more than 20,000 American troops in a campaign to clear Baghdad of all sectarian militias and terrorists will thrust our troops into violent urban guerrilla warfare through buildings and down narrow streets and alleyways where they will be subject to booby-traps, close quarter fighting and suicide attacks. American and Iraqi civilian casualties will dramatically increase and sectors of the city may have to be cleared through bulldozing, blasting or using tanks. Israel tried this in Jenin with disastrous results. If we leave Baghdad in physical ruin or fail in disbanding and disarming all of the militias, America will surely leave Iraq in disgrace, further enflame the hatred of both Sunnis and Shiites and add to anti-American propaganda throughout the Middle East.
Instead, the additional manpower and resources could be directed to secure the less hostile northern and southern areas of Iraq, where we will be able to constructively rebuild utilities, local governments, police and non-sectarian schools and show that our American intervention can be constructive.
There is no lack of honor in securing attainable goals.
