Confusing the fireman with the fire is not only unfair, it is dishonest

Letters to the editor in the IHT include the following:

Dishonest about Iraq

Bob Herbert (Dancing and dying, Views, Jan. 22) joins the chorus of those putting the blame for the murderous mayhem in Iraq exclusively at the feet of President George W. Bush instead of at the bands of insurgents and disgruntled Baathists. Without their very murderous attacks, American troops might have been preparing to leave right after the elections. Without these attacks the number of casualties would have been minimal. Indeed, very few wars, if any, were ever fought with so few military or civilian casualties.

America has made mistakes in this war, some very big ones, such as the failure to get full and indisputable backing from the United Nations, not anticipating the looting and lawlessness, the disbanding of the Iraqi Army and many more. However, the war's basic purpose was and remains noble: the removal of a dangerous tyrant and the attempt to foster a democratic government by and for all Iraqis.

You don't have to like Bush, indeed from a non-American vantage point he and his team are very easy to dislike, but confusing the fireman with the fire is not only unfair, it is dishonest.

John Dunkelgrün, The Hague

Bush's inauguration

What a contrast. The president of the United States gives a speech promising to spread freedom around the world; President Jacques Chirac's supporters try to make him a senator for life so that he can retain his own freedom (Saving President Chirac, Editorial, Jan. 22).

David Morgan, Sydney