We cannot police the world

As your publication has recently reported, the Afghanistan-Iraq wars have been brought closer to home upon the death of Brownwood native James Burnett Jr., 21, of the U.S. Army caused by an improvised explosive device. We all convey our deepest condolences.

Some of us, including this three-and-a-half year U.S. Marine Corps veteran, have argued for many years that we cannot police the world, as the Korean, Vietnam, and now Iraq-Afghanistan wars have demonstrated. It is sadly unfortunate that more of the media, the politicians and U.S. citizens and voters do not share this conviction.

BILL D. BURLISON, Wardell, Mo.