Letters to the Editor

Here's the latest installment of "Letters to the Editor", Middle East policy-style.

Meddling in Mideast

Who can blame Iran for helping Iraqi militants? Wouldn't we do the same if a foreign power invaded Mexico or Canada? Iran merely is helping its friends and protecting its own interests in the area.

Iran is well aware that the United States has no scruples about invading another country; Iran fears that it will be next. This undoubtedly is why they refuse to give up their nuclear program. Who can blame them?

The sad part is that we might have been able to turn to Iran for help and advice, and possibly even get it on our side. But then again, that's not the type of thing that you would expect from an invading country. Let's not forget that we are the aggressors there, and that the militants are just defending their own country like any of us would do if the United States were invaded.

DAN DUGAN, Homestead

Let's check off all the far-left bullet points here.

Moral equivalency...Check
United States as aggressors...Check
Militants merely defending their own country...Check

Thanks Mr. Dugan for reminding me why we need to defeat the militants in the Middle East.

Here's another one:

Even though the world has gotten smaller with the advent of travel and communications, there are many pockets of the world that will never change. The Middle East is an example. The culture and religion have been the same for thousands of years.

Our troops should be brought home immediately, and the Bush administration should stop meddling in the affairs of sovereign countries. I would not like for a foreign entity to come into my ''home'' and start forcing its way of life on me and mine.

Should problems arise with aggression from any country, then it should be brought before the U.N. Security Council. This administration has brought more than its share of misery on the United States and other places in the world.

It is past time for the Iraqi people to settle their problems through diplomatic channels in their own region.

ANNA-LOUISE FULKS, Miami

Ms. Fulks is approaching the same theme from a different angle: the arrogant "they won't change and we can't change their mentality, so why bother" approach. Perhaps we ARE there to force a different way of life in Iraq and Afghanistan. Instead of brutal dictatorships, we're trying to impose democracy and free thought. Maybe that's meddling. But, maybe, just maybe...based on the masses that voted in the first free elections in both countries in decades, we know what we're doing, and what we're doing is right.

If only the U.N. had been able to accomplish that years ago, we possibly wouldn't have to be there now. But, of course, that would be meddling, wouldn't it?