Dear FRONTLINE,This documentary is a truly profound look at a pivotal point in American and world history which gives me the shivers. Is this the beginning of 'the decline and fall of the American Empire?' For the first time in our history we are engaging in a preemptive war. We are attacking first. This to me is setting a terrifying precedent. Perhaps the motives of the leaders who are crafting this policy are good, but will we be able to say the same thing about the leaders of ten, twenty, even fifty years from now? Once the 'Bush Doctrine' is established, will we have the self-control to avoid taking it to its logical extreme? In the past thirty years I have heard much about whether or not America is "the world's policeman." I now feel we are in danger of becoming "the world's vigilante." We now feel justified in attacking a threatening country *before* they commit an international crime. It sickened me how each covert intervention in a country's affairs led to further trouble. Now we're going overt - why do we think that will turn out better? Why can't we follow the exhortations of our founding fathers to lead by example and avoid foreign entanglements? If we were to honestly and completely do so there would be a lot less anti-Americanism in this world.
Barry seymour
manhattan beach, ca
Dear FRONTLINE, I can't believe my tax dollars are being used by PBS to fund a political hatchet-job such as this. The great majority of your "sources" were jaundiced-eyed, liberal outsiders still bitter over hanging chads. I heard Secretary Powell directly refute many of the assertions made by your Washington Post-New Yorker crowd about the feuding within this administration. But beyond that, why not discuss the pros and cons of this policy with both sides of the issue, rather than the token supporter and the gang of opposers. Are you accurately portraying the policy in the first place? A real discussion would be far superior to watching you set up and demolish straw men, with sinister music and hand-wringing narrative. I would like my tax cut to come from the budget that props up the bilge I see on PBS, and hear on NPR. No wonder Fox News is doing so well!
Bob Johnson
poway, ca
Dear FRONTLINE, A very strong background that brings the current crisis into perspective. Clearly, this is a turning point in US policy. The events of 9/11 have changed foreign policy from containment to world shaping. President Bush, like Teddy Roosevelt, is using his "bully pulpit" to impose American values on the World. It is time for Americans to stop being ashamed of our system of government and work to reconstruct rogue states. Those who oppose peaceful democratic change must be replaced.
Michael May
tustin, ca
Dear FRONTLINE, In this most recent time of divided opinion about Iraq's compliance with weapons inspections and the assertion made by some that "inspections are working - just give it more time" you would have done this issue more justice by repeatedly broadcasting the history of Iraq's last 20 years of intentional deception and non-compliance beginning months ago. To wait until tonight was almost like "withholding evidence". Shame on you for the delay.
bellevue, wa
Dear FRONTLINE, In this most recent time of divided opinion about Iraq's compliance with weapons inspections and the assertion made by some that "inspections are working - just give it more time" you would have done this issue more justice by repeatedly broadcasting this history of Iraq's last 20 years of intentional deception and non-compliance beginning months ago. To wait until tonight was almost like "withholding evidence". Shame on you for the delay.
T.J. Woosley
bellevue, wa
Dear FRONTLINE, The Frontline program on "The Long Road To War" was spectacular. Prior to watching this program I found myself vacilating between continued inspections in Iraq vs. regime change through military force. Now, I'm convinced that our freedom and security in today's and tomorrow's world is dependent upon military force against Iraq ... and other rogue states who possess weapons of mass destruction. This program has also increased my admiration and support for George W. Bush.
westlake village, ca
Dear FRONTLINE, I am a 27 year old woman who remembers the first gulf war. I had no idea as to why we went over there then, and until I watched your show I really didn't understand everything that was going on with this current war we are about to undertake. Your show took me back to the beginning. Now I can see why Bush wants to take down Saddam, I understand that it's not only because of September 11th. I can say now I definitly support our president in going to war!! Thank you for this very informative program.
Maisha Bullock
modesto, ca
Dear FRONTLINE, I thought your program was well balanced and the facts put in such a way that it allowed the viewer to decide for him/herself the merits of our policies concerning Iraq. It showed the mistakes that have been made in three admin... and maybe ways to correct those mistakes. Thank you for your straightforward reporting. I would only hope the networks could be so brutality honest
kelso, washington
Dear FRONTLINE, Your program tonight made it clear that America has no moral or legal right to invade Iraq. By merely replaying actual administration statements, and interviewing Bush's insiders, you allowed him and his staff to tell the American people that this is merely a personal grudge match, to finish what his father could not. What a shame for such a leader as America has to jeopardize American lives and leadership for such a petty aim.
Rod McKean
hesperia, ca
Dear FRONTLINE, This show should have been on TV every night for the last 6 months! After watching this, how can anyone question "what is the right thing to do?" I am proud of our President and am proud that he has the strength to do the right thing for the right reason - even if others are telling him he is wrong! Remember, in order for evil to triumph- good men need only to do nothing.
Elaine Willmann
portland, or
Dear FRONTLINE, My social studies class is doing a project on foreign countries. I'm doing Iraq. I will also be "playing" the role of Saddam Hussein. This was quite hard for me because Saddam Hussein has a very tricky mind, but after watching the program you put on, I felt I could really understand him. Knowing his backround and where he grew up was very helpful. Thanks for the info.
Jessica Brittain
tucson, az
Dear FRONTLINE, I was exceedingly disappointed in the PBS coverage of the "Long Road to War." It felt throughout that the piece could have been done essentialy by the Bush Administration. Nearly all the persons interviewed were of the super-hawkish ilk. Never once did I hear any discussion of US access to oil being discussed even though Richard Perle could have been quoted as saying that our access to the oil in the region was essential. It is highly disappointing when what I thought was to be the most objective of the TV options didn't even bother to give a fig leaf's nod to quoting opposing analyses of what constituted US's real intentions for going to war with Iraq.
Earl Martin
harrisonburg, va
Dear FRONTLINE, The report on the Long Road to War was well done and informative. The comments from other viewers are also informative and present a healthy discussion. Your program confirmed views I have had on Iraq for many years. Yes we may have tacitly supported Hussein many years ago but we cannot watch idly as he makes every effort possible to deceive, covert, and turn ourselves against each other. It seems that dictators understand freedom much more than we do.
Mark Molen
denver, co
Dear FRONTLINE, The Long Road To War was not nearly long enough.
There was no discssion or explanation of the history, culture or politics of Iraq prior to 1980. There has been absolutely no coverage anywhere in the media about the historical context of our involvement in the Middle East. The problems of Iraq did not arrive full blown in 1980. The coverage should have gone back at least to the Ottoman Empire and the founding of Iraq after WWI.
And some discussion of the British navy and Iraqi oil is absolutely critical in understanding the imperialist background to the present situation.
It is not all about the United States.
And where did the Israeli/Palestinian issues fit in? I was hoping that Frontline would proide some basis for understanding the issues in Iraq, apart from and inside the Beltway explanation of US political intrigue. I am very, very disappointed.
Michael Black
durango, co
Dear FRONTLINE, I wish it had been broadcast sooner. This report says to me that our going to war could have been prevented. All the way back to when we first supported and armed Saddam. That any nation should be careful who it goes to bed with because they may look a lot worse in the morning than the night before when we thought we needed them. It says to me that the United States has a lot to learn about foreign policy, the internal workings of other countries and the art of diploymacy. I believe we could have disarmed Saddam without going to war. It is sad, so sad that diplomacy failed.
Alice Sullivan
aiken, sc
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