PUBLIC FORUM SHORT ATTENTION SPAN.

President Bush has been constantly reminding Americans of the need to ``free Iraq'' throughout this conflict, but he has not elaborated on what will be the political state of Iraq once Saddam is removed. If the dictator is eliminated, the subsequent power vacuum will leave the government in chaos.

The United States must be willing to commit tremendous resources to establish order and then oversee the political development of Iraq for years to come. How can our government do this while simultaneously combating terrorism worldwide? The Iraqi people seem destined to be abandoned by the United States as our attention gradually shifts elsewhere.

- Brad Witkowski

Studio City

Eating the elephant

Are we suffering from attention deficit disorder? The U.S. media, Democrats, peaceniks, and anti-Bush radicals seem to be suffering from the disease. The U.S. has been in the serious phase of conflict with Saddam Hussein for a short time, yet the noted paranoids are screaming, ``When will it end?'' ``How much will it cost?'' ``How many innocent Iraqis will be killed?''

What is the matter with this country? If we are serious about cutting down the size of terrorism, it will take a long time. Iraq is only the second bite of eating the elephant, Afghanistan being the first bite, and that conflict has not completed yet. Grow up, America, and remember the Twin Towers and the unlucky 3,000 who died there.

- Bob Sharp

Arleta

My country lives

I support my fellow Americans who enlisted, believing in fighting for freedom. It is not their fault that their unelected commandant purposefully confuses a grab for worldwide military intimidation with their legitimate reason for enlisting. They tell me, just as during Vietnam, ``If you are not for the war, leave.''

I say no. You won't convince me that the country I love is dead and gone. You can't convince me my tax dollars are supposed to pay for unwanted military dominance instead of the medical welfare of my elderly parents. You won't convince me paying for the fight for oil is worth forgoing the cost of education of those Americans who will provide the funds for my Social Security benefits.

- Martin Kotowski

Sherman Oaks

Regime change

The media description of people who support President Bush's action regarding Iraq as being ``pro-war'' is an insult to them. Generally, these are the people who recognize that this war started when Iraq attacked Kuwait 12 years ago, if not earlier.

We recognize that, if true peace is to be achieved in our lifetime, despots who have initiated and perpetuated this war must be defeated. While their elimination may not end all warfare, the regime change in Iraq would achieve significantly more peace than if we accommodated the naive, so-called ``anti-war'' protesters.

- Victor N. Viereck

North Hollywood

Real conservatives

It is good to see that our local people have, by and large, realized that you can support our troops and still be against the Bush war. It is not just liberals in Hollywood who say that 'anti-war versus pro-troops' is a false dichotomy. Real conservatives, like Steve Chapman (``Some favor freedom for Iraq, not U.S.'' Viewpoint, March 30), have brought attention to this, right in this newspaper - and to the shameless way the far-right neoconservatives play the patriotism card to brand peace advocates as un-American.

One can be against the policies of the government and still be a patriotic American, especially when those policies run against our fondest American traditions, values, ideals and mores - in other words, when the government itself is being un-American.

- Rick Kellis

Woodland Hills

Propaganda machines

The sad reality of this war is that no matter how hard the USA tries to be honorable, protect civilians and rebuild a country that Iraqi people can govern themselves and thrive in, the only thing most of the world and the protesters will ever see is any harm that comes to any Iraqi person, whether civilian or military.

The propaganda machines around the world will twist everything said and say anything they want until the world believes it. I see very little positive material in news broadcasts. There seems to be a trend toward sensationalizing the mistakes and losses. It is a sad thing when people feel timid about saying in public that they support the troops and removal of this evil tyrant, for fear of being harassed and called a warmonger.

- Sue Shisley

Woodland Hills

Plenty of it

Re ``Parker's price tag,'' (March 31):

The facts, just the facts, ma'am: Mayor James Hahn spent more than $5 million to defeat Valley independence. Hahn promised support and reform to Valley cityhood candidates. Hahn reneged on Valley reform because of state and federal budget cutbacks. Hahn could have saved Chatsworth's equestrian culture without spending a dime.

Ted Stein, one of Hahn's political fund-raisers, will benefit from the destruction of our horse culture. Hahn and the City Council want $300 million for a new downtown police center. The Valley is 2,000 police officers short of providing reasonable response time for violent crime. The stuff the downtown elite and politicians are trying to feed us can be found in my barnyard.

- Jerry England

Chatsworth

Send them packing

Re ``Patriotic banners approved after all'' (March 29):

City government banning patriotic displays? Am I dreaming? Are we in ``Back to the Future II,'' and is Bif running things?

I propose a resolution that the Los Angeles City Council move to Baghdad, since it represents Iraqis more than it represents Angelenos.

- Jeremy Hoenack

Porter Ranch

True colors 

Re ``Patriotic banners approved after all'' (March 29):

As a former resident of Thousand Oaks, I am disgusted to see the City Council take a stand to ban public display of support of our troops. The fact the council rescinded the ban - because of public outcry - shows their true colors, and they are not pretty.

Council members, you typify everything that is disgusting about politicians. You're afraid to upset certain people so you ban displays, then flip-flop when you find out what a big mistake you made. I sincerely hope the citizens of T.O. give you what you deserve and vote you straight out of office.

- Greg Naster

Lancaster

Peddling influence

When I read that Richard N. Perle had resigned as chairman of the Defense Advisory Board, I thought that was great news. This so-called ``prince of darkness'' was caught making questionable deals by using his position of authority and friendship with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to enrich himself, if not illegally then unethically.

But it was not good riddance to bad rubbish. Perle is still a member of the Defense Advisory Board and can continue to peddle his influence. How could that happen? For the same reason many big shots at Enron have not really been punished.

- John Wisdom Dancer

Canoga Park

Sarandon shortsighted 

Re ``Sarandon snubbed for war views'' (NewsLite, March 29):

Susan Sarandon's comments about the United Way fund-raiser being canceled in which she was going to be the keynote speaker is correct. Sarandon was quoted as saying ``once again the shortsightedness of the powerful will end up hurting those in need.''

I cannot think of anyone more shortsighted than she is in her views on the Iraqi war and the death penalty. Since she considers herself one of the ``powerful,'' she has indeed hurt those in need - the Iraqi people that will no longer be brutalized by Saddam Hussein, and families of the regime's murder victims as they seek justice, hoping their loved ones' murderers will be held accountable.

- Ralph L. Myers

West Hills