US optimism on Iraq conflict

Madam, - "Senior American military commanders believe they have broken the power of al-Qaeda in Iraq..

Madam, - "Senior American military commanders believe they have broken the power of al-Qaeda in Iraq. . .according to a report in the Washington Post" ( The Irish Times, October 26th).

Four-and-a-half years ago (on May 3rd, 2003) an elated George Bush, standing aboard the US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln,' declared that "major combat operations have ended in Iraq".

How many more years of infrastructural devastation and deaths of innocent Iraqi civilians are needed before the US administration realises that the Iraqi "war" is unwinnable? - Yours, etc,

BRENDAN BUTLER, The Moorings, Malahide, Co Dublin.