I disagree that there is no solution to Iraq except to wait idly by, as though we have no option except to "do nothing," as though the war will stop by itself. We can withdraw, allowing all nations who so desire to get involved with rebuilding Iraq, and we can continue to commit funds toward rebuilding Iraq, but without active U.S. military involvement. Likening Iraq to a plague -- while I can see the analogy to it spinning out of control -- implies that we can do nothing. In point of fact, we can do something. We took action to get ourselves into this mess, and we must take action to get ourselves out of it. We should never have gone to war in Iraq, but now that we have, it is up to us to admit our mistake and withdraw our forces immediately.

It is unfortunate that this man, as a youth, was taught there was nothing that could be done about Vietnam, and he now believes there is nothing that can be done about Iraq. That conclusion is erroneous.