A'jad in the Big Apple

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Harmony Through Hamas?
Andrew Lee Butters fails to mention that Hamas, Fatah, Islamic Jihad and Hizballah are all united with al-Qaeda, Iran and the Taliban in their desire to obliterate the state of Israel [Aug. 13]. If Israel did not guard its borders, it would be overrun by suicide bombers and its citizens would be murdered daily. Israel, until recently, provided Gaza with most of its water, gas and power needs. Fatah's former leader Yasser Arafat embezzled $3 billion from his poor Palestinian "brethren." Furthermore, in light of Saddam Hussein's paying $10,000 to each suicide bomber's family and of the alliance between Hamas founder Ahmed Yassin and the World Trade Center bombers, it seems rather ludicrous to defend any of the parties in power in Gaza.
Robert Harris, CHICAGO

This story is living proof that Hamas propaganda is successful and that right and wrong have been replaced by expediency. Butters lauds Hamas for bringing "the rule of law" to Gaza, but nowhere does he question why Hamas can bring law and order to Gaza yet can't stop the Qassam rockets that are launched into Israel daily. Hamas brought order to Gaza through sheer brutality: throwing Fatah members off roofs, murdering opposition leaders, firing shots into crowds of peaceful demonstrators, raiding and burning a Greek Orthodox monastery and attacking a school for nuns. Prior to abandoning peace talks to continue attacking Israel, Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank enjoyed the highest standard of living of any non-oil-producing Arab nation, compliments of Israel. The Gazan borders are also Israel's borders; Israel has the right to prevent enemies dedicated to its destruction from entering. Butters should stop drinking the Kool-Aid.
Jackie Reckseit, BOYNTON BEACH, FLA., U.S.

Butters' story proves that if left to their own devices, most governments would do fine without U.S. interference in their internal affairs. We should restrain ourselves when it comes to Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Give them an opportunity to succeed unhindered. Unless, of course, we are afraid they might succeed, which would indicate that there are systems out there at least as capable as our own.
David G. McGrady, MUSKEGON, MICH, U.S.

An Army of Ambassadors
It's unsettling to hear that the Karbala case has stalled because pursuing those behind the attack may undo progress [Aug. 6]. As a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and a fellow member of the Long Gray Line, I found it disheartening to read about the loss of these five fine soldiers. If we agree that the situation in Iraqi villages is too dangerous for diplomats and that Army officers serving as diplomats are not properly trained, we need to come up with a better solution. With today's modern communications equipment, an Army officer in the field should be able to serve as the "face person" for a diplomat in a secure camp in Iraq, in Kuwait or even in Washington. I served with Captain Brian Freeman and remember him as an energetic and highly respected officer. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and to the families of the others slain in this attack.
Mark Williams, MONROE, OHIO, U.S.

The Long Goodbye
Why is it that with our tons of multimillion-dollar weapons and equipment, from tanks to helicopters to drones, we can't seem to defeat the insurgents who have none of this technology? Your sidebar "Moving Mountains" [July 30] showed that the old weapons and warfare are no longer viable. When a $10 pipe bomb can blow up a Humvee or Bradley vehicle, it just shows the whole world that our concept of warfare has been a colossal mistake. Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's plan has turned out to be a waste of lives and treasure.
John Holland, ANAHEIM, CALIF., U.S.

This debacle is the result of the super-arrogant Bush Administration, acting until recently with virtually no oversight by a compliant Congress. The sooner this Administration and its passive enablers in Congress are out of office, the sooner we will find the means to extricate ourselves from this fiasco. May Bush go back to Texas and never be heard from again except as a very bad history lesson.
John Griffin, WALNUT CREEK, CALIF., U.S.

We should model our troop withdrawal on the British pullout from Dunkirk in 1940. Commandeer everything that flies and floats. Do it under cover of smoke and tear gas or fighter escort if necessary. Burn the equipment, but get the soldiers out now. Dunkirk was a defeat for the Brits, but the spirit that emerged from the rescue operation galvanized them for ultimate victory. We might claim some of that spirit by rescuing our soldiers right away.
Doug Dix, BLOOMFIELD, CONN., U.S.

Resurrecting a Dead Language
Instead of the musically insipid hootenanny that the Mass disintegrated into after Vatican II [Aug. 6], returning to the pre-Vatican II style of worship in the local language would restore the beauty of worship while keeping it intelligible to the faithful. If you don't like the church's politics and rules, find another church.
Pauline Costianes, CANTON, MICH., U.S.