What was gained in Iraq?

Finally, President Obama is doing something I agree with: removing our troops from Iraq, a place we should never have been. More than 4,600 American servicemen have been killed. Thousands more have been wounded or disabled for life. The cost is $1.3 trillion and counting, and for what? What was gained? I believe it was blatantly obvious, to those who would see, that this war was in the planning stage before George Bush was inaugurated.

One major obstacle that Mr. Bush did not have to overcome was building an army. We had an all-volunteer military, reserve and national guard ready in the wings. Had Mr. Bush been required to draft soldiers to build his army, I believe going to war would have been off the table. Congress would not have caved in so easily.

Here is a hypothetical conversation that might have occurred more than once in the last seven years: "You bet I support the war. Let's go over there and kick their tails." "Do you have any children serving in the military?" "No, haven't you heard? We have an all-volunteer army. My son did not want to serve, but I'm 110 percent behind your son fighting for our freedom. God bless our soldiers."

Having an all-volunteer army removes the burden that all families would and should share if we had the draft.

A.V. RIEHL, Jackson