Amid confusion and chaos, catastrophe is likely

San Francisco: In the 2003 documentary “The Fog of War,” Robert McNamara, secretary of defense for Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, offered a mea culpa as he sought to come to terms with mistakes made during a Vietnam War that ripped America at the seams. For McNamara, the fog of war is so confusing, complex, chaotic and disorienting that there can be catastrophic mistakes and deadly consequences.

The deaths of at least 175 people, mainly children, at an Iranian girls’ school at the outset of the bombardment of Iran by the U.S. and Israel on Feb. 28 is that kind of catastrophe. It’s reported that poor intelligence led to a U.S. munition striking the school. Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia has called for a thorough investigation. It’s deeply troubling that in the absence of clear evidence, President Trump stated that the attack “was done by Iran.” Prevarication from the president causes me to question the necessity of this war and the expectation of an endgame that will not result in American lives being lost thoughtlessly or under deceptive pretenses.

I was troubled to read the report that Russia is providing real-time intelligence to Iran of the locations of U.S. troops, ships and aircraft. It seems an incredible travesty that as this occurs, the president lifted sanctions on the purchase of Russian oil — a windfall for Vladimir Putin as he begins his spring offensive against Ukraine! Bruce Farrell Rosen

Oriental, N.C.: Thirteen military personnel have died because of this madman in the Oval Office. Parents, spouses, children and families are grieving their loved........

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