Letters: Aug. 15, 2005

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Klein noted, "It is long past time for the White House to stop fighting the press and the Democrats and figure out how to fight the war." He should have added that it is time for the press and the Democrats to stop playing politics with the Iraq war and demanding a timetable for U.S. withdrawal. Their words give aid and comfort to the enemy.

EKBERT SHAW - Santa Rosa, Calif.

As Klein noted, although the U.S. Presidential election is long over, campaign- style spinning persists. The Iraq war is out of control. Anyone who believes there is a political solution to the problems in Iraq must be dreaming. The U.S. will never be able to extricate itself from the fighting in the Middle East. There is something to be said about a comprehensive, multilateral foreign policy for the region that includes diplomacy, inspections and containment: when we had it, it worked. Our entire military could have been gainfully employed right here in the States, out of harm's way, securing our homeland at a fraction of the cost of invading Iraq.

MARLENE B. FELTUS-JACKSON - New Orleans

Why call the situation in Iraq a war? Iraq is an emerging democratic country struggling to govern itself after years of oppression. There are lawless insurgents, both foreign and Iraqi, that the authorities must deal with. Why doesn't the U.S. just get out of the way? If we keep calling the conflict a war, the insurgents may gain strength by naming it "the American war." They will use that label to recruit Iraqis who hate us.

CLEMENT EDGAR - Bethany Beach, Del.

Of Islam and Violence

Irshad Manji's Essay "When Denial Can Kill" succinctly captured the complex issue of Islam's intertwinings with terrorism and noted that Muslims, of which she is one, need to admit that Islam might be motivating suicide bombers [July 25]. As a Muslim, I find it not only refreshing but also encouraging to read an article that challenges what Manji referred to as a "dangerous denial from which mainstream Muslims need to emerge." Perhaps other Muslims will follow Manji's lead and be less hesitant to create a much needed bridge of "cross-cultural understanding."

SARA SADIK - London

Manji argues that extremists' actions are fostered in part by Islamic teachings. Funny, I'm a Muslim, yet I haven't gone and blown myself up. Neither have my relatives or my neighbors. Blaming verses from the Koran for terrorist attacks upon innocent people is just plain wrong.

SHEHLA NAZ FAIZI - Karachi

The biggest threat posed to the civilized world by religious radicals of all stripes is their inability to doubt or question dogma that is clearly immoral in today's world. It is past time for prominent leaders from all the world's major religions to express a genuine commitment to finding a common moral ground that will allow all peoples to choose the faith that best fits their needs.

WILLIAM M. DIEKMANN - Phoenix, Ariz.