The Quandary of Iraq

Fouad Ajami regards any lull in Iraq as an American success, ignoring problems like ethnic cleansing of millions of Iraqis and their flight to Jordan and Syria ["A Decent Outcome for Iraq," October 15].

Iraq is divided along ethnic lines by populations abandoning their homes in fear. The Iraqis themselves are doing what we do not have the stomach to do: divide Iraq. The Sunni change of allegiance is ignoring realities. [Osama] bin Laden, too, was an ally once. The time will come when the Sunnis too will hunt U.S. soldiers. Divide Iraq and get out. We've lost too many young as it is with nothing to show.

Albert Reingewirtz
Narberth, Pa.

From Ajami's observations while in Iraq, it would seem that my son did not spend 28 months in that country in vain. I wish that this message were more widely reported. Most opinion pieces focus on our big mistake in being there. It is comforting to think we may have ultimately made a difference.

George F. Wilson
Key Largo, Fla.

As an American with 15-plus years of experience in the Middle East prior to the recent conflict, and fortunate to have both Sunni and Shia Muslims as friends and coworkers, I was puzzled that Arab/Muslim scholars in the United States who knew of the latent differences between the two sects as well as differences of thought among Arab families, clans, and tribes didn't speak out more forcefully against the American invasion of Iraq and warn of the potential for catastrophic upheaval in that country and the region. Where were those scholars in the think tanks when we needed them? I was horrified to learn that Ajami supported the invasion.

John B. Moullette
Fort Garland, Colo.