Peace unlikely in divided Iraq

The unseemly handling of the execution of Saddam Hussein by the Shiite-controlled government of Iraq only adds fodder to what many Americans are calling the misadventure of our time, and perhaps of all time. It's not as if Saddam's Sunni cohorts needed to witness another manifestation of the control Shiites and Kurds now have in the new ruling party. However, the reluctance of the Shiites to conduct a reasonable, solemn execution to punish this most hated despot only underscores their pent-up anger and the frustrations they face in trying to meld a truly disparate populace into a functioning government. Regrettably, we are smack dab in the middle of an internecine struggle palpably different than any we've faced as a nation. The scores to be settled between the two main sects of Islam go back centuries. Our leaders wanted to inject democracy and freedom into the lives of Iraqis, but many of them want to seek revenge at any cost. Like a majority of the population, I supported the war when presented with the “facts” by our president. Now, I embrace the need to cut our losses in a no-win war, turn the job of security completely over to the elected government and begin to close this sad chapter in our history. Frank Tamru, Egg Harbor Twp - Atlantic City Press, January 10, 2007