Atrocities in wartime; Michael Kinsley’s take on Mitt Romney and healthcare reform; a poll on Mormons in America

Reality of war

Re “Warfare changed, but laws did not,” Jan. 15

I served in Vietnam in 1965 and ’66. I have one thing to say about today’s methods of fighting war: There are no rules of engagement.

People can sit in their fancy offices with their fancy law degrees and write out all the legal rules and regulations they want, but when the shooting starts, there is only one thing that matters — stay alive, whatever it takes. If that means innocent people must die, then so be it. That sounds cruel, heartless and dirty, and that is what it is. That is what war is.

Maybe it is time to put an end to war. I doubt we are up to that.

Jerry Hayes

Lompoc

Better training for U.S. forces could go a long way toward avoiding another Haditha massacre, but more fundamental change is needed to ensure that future operations prioritize civilian life.

While the U.S. message has been that forces make every effort to avoid adverse effects to civilians, those efforts have often been ad hoc, from Vietnam to Afghanistan. The issue becomes a priority when external pressures demand attention. This is neither morally acceptable nor strategically smart.

Troops in Afghanistan learned to pay attention to civilian harm because anger over casualties — including those caused within the law — was crippling the mission. Top brass prioritized avoiding civilians and the casualty rate went down.

It’s time to bring that intensive focus to Washington by creating a Pentagon office dedicated to civilian protection issues in U.S. operations, training

included.

Sarah Holewinski

Washington

The writer is executive director of the Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict.

While we go about addressing the intricacies of waging war among a civilian population, it might be beneficial to have a goal in mind before invading in the first place.

In the last decade we have seemed to adopt a policy of “ready, fire, aim.” Our leaders can’t even agree on what “winning” means. Thus we end up in a self-defeating scavenger hunt in which none of the players knows what he is looking for, while at the same time his superiors exhort him to be more effective in his search.

Who wouldn’t be angry and frustrated in such a scenario?

Steve Lee

La Habra

Healthcare as a political issue

Re “Not so different,” Opinion, Jan. 13

Republicans should be careful what they wish for. Repealing the new healthcare law will be a tragedy in the short term for millions of Americans. And in the long term, the lack of affordable insurance would grow.

If Mitt Romney repeals “Obamacare,” the next time the Democrats gain control of Congress and the White House, they will not waste time negotiating with Republicans, who refused to agree to what Michael Kinsley points out was their own idea to begin with.

Rather, Democrats will fight for the “single-payer” model. By that time, so many Americans will have lost their insurance or been abused by the insurance companies that Democrats will go for the gold.

Obamacare, like “Romneycare” in Massachusetts, is the best hope Republicans have of preserving the private health insurance industry.

Carl Martz

Redlands

Insurance mandates in Massachusetts were bad policy, but unlike Obamacare’s mandates, they were not a violation of the enumerated powers in the U.S. Constitution. Unfortunately, Kinsley substitutes an ad hominem attack on Romney for a discussion of the issue. Of Romney, Kinsley writes: “He will do or say anything to be president.”

Kinsley also writes: “Cut to Washington, 2010. President Obama also chose the individual mandate as his model for healthcare reform.” But as a candidate in 2008, Obama opposed mandates when they were advocated by Hillary Rodham Clinton. Was that because he would “do or say anything to be president”?

The debate about insurance mandates should be based on law, not on juvenile assertions. Romney was wrong to advocate mandates as governor of Massachusetts in 2005; Obama was equally wrong in 2010. The election should be about how to fix those mistakes.

Richard E. Ralston

Newport Beach

The writer is executive director of Americans for Free Choice in Medicine.

Being Mormon in the U.S.

Re “Poll finds Mormons feel marginalized,” Jan. 13

I am not surprised that Mormons feel marginalized, especially by evangelical Christians. But I wonder what type of discrimination they have experienced.

Once, Jewish, Japanese, Mexican and African Americans couldn’t join certain clubs or buy property in many neighborhoods. In many areas interracial marriage was banned, and blacks faced the restrictions of Jim Crow laws in most of the South.

In the last part of the 19th century, Mormons may have faced discrimination and even persecution. But what discrimination have they faced since the last part of the 20th century? Mormons have become politicians and bankers. Where is the discrimination?

Daniel Fink

Beverly Hills

The view that Mormons are not real Christians and are polygamists is a classic example of contempt prior to investigation.

Though I was not raised Mormon and do not follow the faith, many of my family members do. I can attest to the fact that Mormons are in general happy and well adjusted.

Their commitment and dedication to family and service to others is commendable, considering that the breakdown of the traditional family has had devastating effects on the morals of our children and society.

Paige Zito

Valley Village

It matters

Re “When a tilde is missing,” Postscript, Jan. 14

Thanks to reader Jose Suarez for calling The Times’ attention to the missing tilde when referring to Mexican presidential candidate Enrique Peña Nieto. The difference in the meaning of the word pena versus the name Peña is definitely an issue.

I have my own tales to tell about the missing tilde. I asked that my family’s name, with the tilde over the “n,” be inscribed on the American Wall of Honor at Ellis Island. The reply: “The English alphabet had to prevail over foreign alphabets.”

A few years ago, however, when Los Angeles was similarly confronted, city officials agreed to have the tilde incorporated for street signs.

Thanks to Suarez’s reminder, I am now diligently scribbling that “ñ” with renewed purpose and conviction.

Rogelio Peña

Montebello

A smart switch

Re “State targets ‘vampire’ energy use,” Jan. 13

What I have often wondered is why we don’t have ready access to the kinds of outlets used in Britain and Ireland that have an on-off switch. When the switch is off, the outlet doesn’t work and presumably is not drawing current.

While I want to save energy, I don’t want to have to waste time unplugging every device I’m not using. Being able to turn off the outlet is a simple and effective alternative.

Leslie Thorson

Los Feliz

TV time

Re “Broadcast decency judged by high court,” Business, Jan. 11

God bless the Supreme Court for its apparent reluctance to loosen decency regulations. Broadcast television is raunchy enough as it is, with many shows depending on questionable, low-brow sexual innuendo for laughs.

I hate to think what we’d be seeing and hearing if the high court allowed broadcasters free rein on the public airwaves.

Mandy Baker

Norco