Letters: Aug. 14, 2006

The War That Never Ends

Our special package scrutinizing the latest chapter in the Middle East conflict and various proposals for bringing peace to the region provoked impassioned responses. Many readers deplored the tactics being used by both sides and chastised the U.S. for failing to broker a deal that would curb the violence

The moral equivalence assigned to Israel and Hizballah in Lisa Beyer's article "Hate Thy Neighbor" [July 24] was disgusting. Hizballah is a terrorist organization that targets innocent civilians with its rockets. Israel is a democratic nation-state with the right of self-defense. Comparing the two is akin to saying the U.S. and al-Qaeda are on the same moral plane. The U.S. does not negotiate with terrorists, and neither should Israel.

MATT LAKEMACHER

Round Lake Beach, Ill.

I find it hard to understand how civilized countries in the 21st century can conduct or condone such massive collective punishment of the Lebanese people. The force being applied by Israel is grossly disproportionate to the threat it faces. To see that, one need only compare casualty figures of the two countries. As one who still believes in international law, I can only hope that those who have perpetuated or assisted in this tragedy will be held accountable.

L. MICHAEL HAGER

FORMER DIRECTOR GENERAL INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LAW ORGANIZATION

Washington

Israel's response to terrorists is correct. Hamas and Hizballah kidnapped three Israeli soldiers and are holding them until Israel releases its suspected terrorist prisoners. Meanwhile, gutless European nations stand by and accuse Israel of overreacting. If members of your immediate family had been kidnapped and you knew who did it, would you forsake them by standing idly by? Instead of painting Israel as the aggressor, Europeans should be cheering it on in its fight for peace.

HERBERT W. STARK

Massapequa, N.Y.

According to TIME's cover story, "it's not clear that anyone has the ability to get the belligerents to calm down" in the Middle East. Fortunately, that is false. For one, the U.S. could simply tell Israel to stop bombing Lebanon and Gaza or forfeit military aid. Israel would have no choice but to comply. The fact that the Bush Administration has not pursued that avenue to peace indicates that its stated priorities are not its actual goals.

FEROZE SIDHWA

Sugar Land, Texas

The seething hatred in the Middle East has been festering for far too long. The rich and powerful nations of the world must band together under the banner of the U.N. and act to stop the carnage once and for all.

GREG MURPHY

Halifax, N.S.

The Iran Factor

In his column on Iran's role in the Middle East conflict [July 24], Joe Klein wove speculation and conjecture into a grand theory that it is all George W. Bush's fault. We are at war with a fanatic totalitarian movement, the aim of which is nothing less than the destruction of the West. Yes, Bush might have made many mistakes, but does Klein really believe that without Bush in office, Iran's President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, would act more rationally?

THOMAS A. EDELMAN

Santa Monica, Calif.