Letters to the Editor

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zenwick

Published Letters: 239     Editor's Choice: 2

  • Minor quibble

    [Read the article: The secret Iraq documents my 8-year-old found]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    I believe Moore mischaracterizes the Bush Administration's position on withdrawal from Iraq. They seem to believe that setting a date would postpone insurgent violence until after the withdrawal, not necessarily increase it.

  • Not such a mystery

    [Read the article: Large number of Americans favor violent attacks against civilians]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    I don't think it's any mystery why Iranians are less inclined to favor the bombing of innocent civilians than Americans are. It's because in both cases, the respondents are assuming it's the Americans who will be doing the bombing. A little collateral damage is justifiable, when you're trying to prevent a smoking gun in the shape of a mushroom cloud; unless you're on the receiving end, that is.

  • Y'all have it backwards

    [Read the article: Keith Olbermann calls it "betrayal"]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Sorry, folks, but this was played correctly by the Dems. If they were to defund the war or set a short timetable, they would become the proud owners of the coming catastrophe in the Near East, just in time to keep the Republicans in office next November. Is that what you folks want to happen? It would be the worst of all possible worlds.

  • Ban them

    [Read the article: A Chicago pol wants you to run more red lights]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Whatever the stated rationale, ban the darn things. I don't want my loved ones killed by some idiot who feels free to run unguarded red lights. Why would anyone pay 450 bucks for such a gadget, unless they intended to use it to run red lights? I'm sure the Chicago alderman must have been taken out of context, and revenue was just a subsidiary reason for banning the devices.

  • Dick 'Tater

    [Read the article: Ten things about Dick]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    I have a pal who is a 911 conspiracy theorist, who thinks that the US Government blew up the World Trade Center and Pentagon as an excuse for stealing oilfields in the Middle East. I think that's daft. It's just not possible to organize such a thing. On the other hand, it's pretty clear that if Dick Cheney had thought such a thing possible, and judged that there would be at least a short-term benefit, then it most likely would have been tried. There is obviously no limit to the man's expediency and dictatorial leanings.

  • Easier?

    [Read the article: Israel's Olmert rises from the rubble]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    "[I]t is easier for Olmert to throw up his hands and say that it is impossible at present to negotiate with the Palestinians", for the simple reason that it is impossible at present to negotiate with the Palestinians. With whom does one negotiate? Hamas won't, and doesn't accept the results of any previous negotiations. Any agreements reached between Israel and Fatah will just serve to delegitimize Fatah in the eyes of the Palestinian street. There is no way to make forward progress.

  • Papaleh

    [Read the article: Israel's Olmert rises from the rubble]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    I wish (and I'm sure all Israelis wish) there was any truth in your rhetoric. So, enlighten us, if you have anything to say. You write: "Hamas would change its rejectionist position if a satisfactory agreement could be consummated". Give us an example of an agreement that would satisfy Hamas, and leave Israel in existence as a homeland for Jews. There is no such thing, and you know it.

  • Parliament

    [Read the article: Israel's Olmert rises from the rubble]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    On the contrary, I think Israel's parliamentary system is one of its great strengths. They have a real democracy, rather than our two-party system. They'll never get stuck with a George W Bush and a Dick Tater Cheney for six and a half years (and counting) based on a dead heat in a backwater state.

  • Textbook

    [Read the article: A "safe haven" for al-Qaida in Pakistan]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Interesting that Krongard refers to Afghanistan as "absolutely textbook-perfect", in terms of cooperation. The story I keep hearing is that Rumsfeld prevented the military from sealing off the Pakistan border at Tora Bora, letting bin Laden escape, because CIA were in charge there rather than DOD. This might have been a good point on which to follow up. Why is Krongard talking to the press now, anyway?

  • Ken

    [Read the article: Congress puts off fixing touch-screen voting]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Old news, buddy. Do you work for Diebold, or are you recently arrived from Mars?

  • Sorry, Sidney

    [Read the article: The three stooges]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    ... but I don't follow the logic. Gonzo can't go under the bus because Congress would hold up his successor's nomination? I don't see how that explains anything. That would just hang the continuing chaos at Justice on the Democrats.

  • Back Channel

    [Read the article: Will the real Colin Powell stand up?]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    I would think that Powell's priority at this late date would be to do what he can to put the Army right again, after years of abuse by the chickenhawks. My guess that whatever comes out of his mouth will be whatever Petraeus and other senior active-duty generals can't say themselves.

  • KayWWW

    [Read the article: The poisonous rhetorical legacy of Karl Rove]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    KayWWW is exactly right. Every regime employs hired guns who know how to manipulate public opinion. The difference here is the total absence of adult supervision. Most people used to understand that differences of opinion make America strong and great, but our current administration (as well as the oddly-named Mr. Hitlery, above) fail to grasp that fact, to our terrible detriment.

  • Whose Report?

    [Read the article: Am I in bed with MoveOn?]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Several weeks ago, you guys pointed to an LA Times article which claimed that the "Petraeus Report...would actually be written by the White House...."

    http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-pullback15aug15,0,4840766.st

    ory?page=2&coll=la-home-center

    Has anyone asked Petraeus about this? Or has it since been discredited?

  • Please explain

    [Read the article: When winning is still losing]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Joan, please explain how we got into this situation in the first place. I remember that in 2005, the Gang-Of-14 compromise prevented Democrats from filibustering Bush's far right-wing judicial nominees, and they were confirmed on party-line simple-majority votes. Now, with the Democrats supposedly in power, a simple majority isn't sufficient. How does this make any sense?

  • Extremists

    [Read the article: Ingrates]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Hey, the Chimp sez it's not just terrorists we detain, question and (ahem) don't torture; it's extremists, too! Like all those nasty Democrats who want us to lose in Iraq, for instance. Aren't they extremists? Rush and Sean certainly think so.

  • Wait a minute

    [Read the article: Loose links sink ships]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    I'm just as disgusted with the Bush League as anyone else, but this whole scenario doesn't scan. I'm sure SITE deals in classified information all the time, and this - obviously - was not put into that category. If they wanted to protect it, they should have classified it. Or maybe the game here was to see who the blabbermouths are, at the top of the political echelon.

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