Reader Comments

Editor: It is time. Mecca delenda est! Or we delenda. John McCullough, Easton, PA

Editor: Good, thoughtful article on the “Israeli Trap.” I am not sure we would agree on what we want in that part of the world, or rather how to get what we probably both want, but we do know what we're against! And those are great quotes from your 2002 Washington Times article. I'd be touting them too if I had made them publicly! David Franke

Editor: “Israeli Trap” assumed that Osama wished to lure us into a quagmire in Afghanistan with the attacks of 9/11. Not really. First, it didn’t work. I am puzzled why it is when the Islamic fascists attack it is always cunning, smart, brave, oh and how effective. But if the West responds militarily, it is bungling, not proportioned, hurts our popularity, inflames the Arab street, is ineffective. If Osama wanted to lure us into a quagmire, why was he happy when we left Somalia and Beirut? He saw our retreat as evidence of our cowardice—more attacks would make us give up. In short, Osama claimed such retreats proved we would give-up at the first sign of harm—thus completely opposite your original theory. He thought hitting NY would show the jihadists how great he was and he could wrestle the mantle away from Iran and the mullahs for leadership of the worldwide ummah and their struggle against the crusaders. Parenthetically, it was good to see you at Cap Weinberger’s funeral, however sad it was to see that great American go to a better place. I remember the Reagan administration with each passing day more and more positively. Peter Huessy, President of GeoStrategic Analysis, Potomac, Maryland and Senior Defense Associate, NDUF

Editor: Your essay, "Israeli Trap", is sobering. Joseph Morris

Editor: Regarding your editorial “Israeli Trap,” Israel and America need to stop worrying about "world opinion" and bomb the hell out of Lebanon, Syria and Iran, and keep bombing until the terrorists are defeated or dead. Civilian casualties, as tragic as they are, happen in war—and we are at war. Let's fight it, win it and end it. maryakutz@aol.com

Editor: Regarding “Israeli Trap” forget the UN peace keeping force which for 35 years in Southern Lebanon did squat. Forget the weak small Lebanese Army, poorly trained and equipped also among its ranks many Hezbollah converts. The only force able to disarm Hezbollah when the Israeli army leaves Lebanon is NATO Commanded by a British General. Any other plan is doomed from the start and it is back to Hezbollah square one. Bill Cridland, Bolton MA, ex-British Navy Officer

Editor: Thanks for the frank objective look at our terrorist enemy in “Israeli Trap.” I have wondered if Mexico did the same to us, would we have done the same thing. Israel was attacked by Hezbollah. What were they to do? Now all that can be said is for Israel to finish the job. Carl Tarajkowski, Phoenix, Arizona

Editor: I must disagree with “Israeli Trap.” We can not afford more limited and 'achievable' objectives. We must stop Radical Islam from realizing its programme of revolutionary transformation of the traditional Islamic societies, a programme which is as radical as the Khmer Rouge transformation of Cambodia, or we will experience nuclear 9/11s. Forget therapeutic and diplomatic approaches. Israel, this country, and all Western Civilization is under attack by a cunning, relentless, and deceitful enemy. This is war. Let's get serious about winning. Sincerely, Daryl

Editor: In my opinion, the article about Israel's chances of defeating the terrorists was a very enlightening article. Norm Baker, Willmar, MN

Editor: My thought after reading "Israeli Trap" column is to conclude that the terrorists, Hezbollah, and Osama bin Laden, et al, are invincible. Donald Devine suggests that bin Laden is too smart in planning and Hezbollah terrorists too capable in combat for Israel and the United States to defeat. I disagree. Respectfully, Norman Henry, Colchester, Vermont [The editor replies: So do I. It is a question of how.]

Editor: Regarding your article “Israeli Trap”, I totally disagree with you. I do not see Israel or Iraq as traps. Israel is surrounded by countries that want to wipe them off the face of earth. Saddam Hussien funded Palestinian families to strap bombs to their children to kill people in Israel, he had training camps in Iraq to kill Christians, Jews, he even killed his own people with WMD. As long as we have terrorists like the leader of Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, Hamas, etc wanting to cut heads off, even put their own women and children in harms way as shields for a political point, strapping bombs to their children in the name of "Allah" to kill defenseless men, women and children peacefully trying to carry out their day at work, eating, shopping, etc....all because there are people in the world with different religious beliefs than theirs. Then we all must pray for peace, and in the meantime, fight to end this killing spree they seem to constantly be on. When these terrorist groups stop their killing sprees, then there is a chance for peace in the world. As far as I am concerned, they have no SOULS and are taken over by the devil. I will continue to pray for peace in the world, for tolerance of our God-given FREE WILL to believe what we want regarding our faith in God. But I also feel that Israel has the right to defend itself from the evil that is around them. In the end, evil always loses and God's Will will prevail. Sandy Barrett

Editor: Your prescription for Peace in our Time reminds me of the fools who thought Hitler could be appeased in the thirties. We need to carpet bomb Tehran and Damascus to end this war as victors, not appeasers. There will never be peace in the Middle East until every last fanatical Islamo-facist is killed or captured. Just as in Germany and Japan, send in the B-52's and Cruise Missiles now!! Captain Michael Larkin (of B-47 fame)

Editor: Well, sir, in your “Israeli Trap” article, "miscalculations" is one way to write off perhaps the dumbest and most destructive criminal ineptitude ever to emanate from the Oval Office. "Miscalculations" and "a tough lesson in foreign affairs reality" is a very gentle characterization of what Bush has wrought. I like your writing, honest. But, at this point, I think it is time to call a spade a spade--just in case another criminally irresponsible imbecile decides to strut his stuff. Respectfully, Jay Diamond

Editor: “Israeli Trap” is wrong and sounds confused about the situation in the Middle East. Apparently UN forces are the answer to Muslim attacks on non Muslims. Or perhaps some other international force minus the U.S. and Israel. What does Devine think the UN or some international force is going to do? The UN was already in Lebanon and Iraq. What did the UN do to stop the violence in those two countries? What has the UN done to stop violence in any country? Sincerely, Robert E. Solum [The editor replies: Actually, I said the UN did not stop the violence last time and that this was only one of two solutions, the one I said to beware of.]

Editor: Thank goodness there are people like Dennis Avery—in his “Gore Sea Levels” in your current edition—as well as his colleague, atmospheric physicist Fred Singer--to rebut the patent falsehoods of Al Gore's latest rant on a subject he actually knows little about. For the past five years or more many of us have listened to the frantic rhetoric coming from a scientific community that knows better, or should! When the politicians babble about matters endlessly and make little sense, we accept that they are professional liars. When our scientific community joins the politicians and the world globalist cabal that only seeks to run the world and denigrate America at every opportunity, we have reason to be upset. By writing this article and the soon to be released book about the Global Warming meme, the authors do a great service to their country and its citizens. Thank you! Steve Ralston, Coatesville, PA.

Editor: Regarding “GOP Lose Congress?” By Allen Roth, what should a "true" conservative do in future elections? Why not vote one's conscience? If both the Democrats and Republicans present a "lesser of two evils" situation; then why vote against one's conscience, by voting for any evil? "Sitting on one's hands" is shirking one's obligation to freedom by participating "in the process" and gives the advantage to the worse of the two evils. Voting for 3rd party or "write-in" candidates is voting one's conscience, fulfilling one's obligation to participate and telling the two major parties that one has and will utilize other options. Will the 3rd party or "write-in candidates win? Not likely, but, if the message would be strong and clear. If voters had been voting their consciences for the last, almost, 50 years, I submit that the Democrat Party and Republican Party would, today, be more responsive to the electorate. Frank W. Russell (Nalcrest, Fl.)

Editor: Greg Forster is correct in his article “Friedman on Vouchers.” What have they been smoking at the Department of Education? They need only to meet my 13 year old daughter who has attended a Catholic School since pre-school. Her vocabulary alone is so far superior to that of her public school peers. She notes the differences and adjusts accordingly whenever she interacts with them in social settings, i.e. select club sports, church etc. She has read more books by mandate and for recreation at 13 that most kids in public school will read before they finish college. Katie will be ready for any school she choses to attend when the time comes. This is because she has been taught critical thinking and how to study. She is also required to do 2 to 3 hrs of homework 5 nights a week. We personally know many families who have to pay for multiple non-credit remedial junior college courses. Some of these students had been assured they where top students winning several academic accolades at graduation, only to find out later it is all a big "feel good" show. Some of the kids now feel they will never measure up and are giving up on a college education. This is a crime that will go unchallenged in the education system. Funny how most of the teachers’ (that I know) kids seem to be prepared for college. Their educator parents know which classes to push for and how to make sure their kids are taken care of. If you are not an educator you are in for a big let down. Nancy Carpenter, Wylie, TX