This election is foolishly debating President Bush’s and Sen. John Kerry’s Vietnam service, when the real Vietnam lesson is being totally ignored.

The guerrilla war in Iraq is worsening. The growing militant Islamic insurgency is strangling Iraq’s democracy in its crib. Drastic action is necessary. Yet neither candidate tells the truth.

As in Vietnam, our military is being prevented from conquering guerrilla strongholds. As in Vietnam, a fragile government reels from terrorist attacks. As in Vietnam, political fear of mass casualties and negative world opinion restrains the president from doing what is militarily necessary to crush the insurgency.

Yet unlike Vietnam, when America could survive an embarrassing loss, a U.S. defeat in Iraq will lead to disaster. A jubilant militant Islam, victorious in Iraq, would threaten the security of the world through Pakistan’s nukes and Saudi oil.

Fearful of making Iraq look worse before the election, Bush plays defense. And the pacifist Kerry would pull out of Iraq, thus guaranteeing American defeat.

Peace-loving Iraqis and valiant American soldiers now pay the price for our restraint. Guerrilla strongholds in the Sunni triangle must be liquidated, and soon, regardless of civilian or military casualties. Otherwise, if allowed to fester, the insurgency will win this war. And then everything we have sacrificed and bled for in Iraq will have been for naught.

The real lesson of Vietnam is that political restraint of the military guarantees defeat.

George Glass, Lewiston