Madam, - Senator Edward Kennedy has called Iraq "George Bush's Vietnam". Paul Bremer's reply was (sic) "Aw gee, I don't even know where to start with that comparison. I think it's completely inappropriate". True, there are important differences; the destruction of Vietnam was aimed at stopping the march of a rival superpower, the war in Iraq has more to do with control of natural resources.
There are some similarities though; in both cases, the US terrorised a civilian population in order to further its own interests. In both cases, the promotion of "democracy" was used as a justificatory smokescreen.
Mr Bremer should bear these disturbing parallels in mind when showing the "terrorists and former regime guys" that he "means business". - Yours, etc.
FERGAL TREANOR, Cologne, Germany.