Letters

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.

Would negotiations with Iran and Hizballah persuade them to give up their attempts to wipe Israel off the map? I doubt that. History teaches us that it is important to believe the declared intentions of megalomaniacs.

JEFFREY FILLMAN

Boston

As long as the U.S. gives substantial amounts of military and economic aid to Israel, America is going to be blamed for any atrocities that are committed. We need to look at what is right for the U.S., then worry about everyone else.

JOY CASSELL

Orlando, Fla.

Klein states that "no one really does know who runs Iran." As an Iranian who lived there for 15 years, I would say that the Islamic Republic is directly controlled by Supreme Leader Ayatullah Ali Khamenei and that President Ahmadinejad is merely a mascot for the regime. That type of government is a simple dictatorship.

ARYAN MOJTAHEDI

Montreal

High Achievers

Claudia Wallis' wonderful account of the accomplishments of a couple with Down syndrome [July 24] noted that they both graduated from high school. Carrie Bergeron went on to Herkimer County Community College in upstate New York, where she received a teacher's aide certificate, and Sujeet Desai graduated from the Berkshire Hills Music Academy in South Hadley, Mass., a postsecondary program for young-adult musicians with cognitive or developmental disabilities. And both have found meaningful work based on their dreams--Carrie in child care and Suj as a performer.

SHARON E. LIBERA

Granby, Mass.

Reading about Carrie and Suj's two weddings and how they have blended two cultures and are living independently with Down syndrome made me smile. If only each of us would accommodate the differences in others, perhaps the world could move from anger and conflict to cooperation and acceptance.

LINDA WALKER

Billings, Mont.

To Butt, or Not to Butt

Three cheers for Bill Saporito's Viewpoint on the World Cup final [July 24]! Having followed Zinedine Zidane's career closely, I am furious that many will remember him as a hothead. Zidane has done a great deal to help kids in the rough suburbs of Marseilles, where he grew up, and is respected in France for his talent, determination and longevity in the sport. What Zidane did was not the best course of action. Nonetheless, his jersey remains a prized possession in my classroom.

KRISTINA CHARLES

Covina, Calif.

During my 40 years as a sportscaster for NBC and ABC, I met many great athletes. And it was only the great ones who said, "I want my opponent to be at his very best because that's the only way I can truly test myself." The disappointing ending to the World Cup makes me wonder whether Marco Materazzi and his Italian teammates are proud of their championship. Is winning at any cost the only thing that counts?

CHARLIE JONES

La Jolla, Calif.

Was Saporito watching the same World Cup I was? No matter how great a player Zidane is, he behaved like a child having a temper tantrum, without regard for its effect on his team. He is a loser.

LOUIS BROWN

Philadelphia

Smiling Through Surgery

Re Michael Kinsley's Essay written in anticipation of brain surgery [July 24]: I again see the man I admired on Crossfire, someone with whom I disagreed but who was analytical and fair. Understanding our frailty helps us keep a balanced perspective. As a Republican, I would welcome the old Kinsley back.

BILL KISTULINEC

Warren, N.J.

It is not often that one is confronted with mortality in such stark terms. I recently lost my father and then became a grandfather within a month of his passing. Time is so fleeting and so precious.

JOSEPH BICHLER

Grand Rapids, Mich.

Kinsley's Essay is a masterpiece of humor and good writing. He expressed a patient's feelings without resorting to melodrama and at the same time aptly explained a disease and its treatment. Communication between doctors and patients would benefit from having similar texts for other conditions.

JOSE EMILIO BATISTA, M.D., PH.D.

Barcelona, Spain