Regarding the Jan. 31 news article “Deadly attack on American troops spotlights an open-ended military mission”:
Politics is the problem. Our leaders feel they must show action rather than educate the public in the subtleties of diplomacy. Courage through leadership and thoughtful response to the opposition are required to avoid this foolishness. Regretablly, with such courage in short supply, it is likely we will keep our troops in dangerous positions for no visible reason other than show.
This veteran and grandfather will urge his grandson to avoid military service until we have a coherent reason for spreading our military worldwide.
It is entirely too easy to say the problems are complicated and we must therefore continue doing what we always do.
John A. Bacon Jr., Exeter, N.H.
