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December 13-19, 2007
editorial@boulderweekly.com
Israel’s future
(Re: “Will Israel survive?” cover story, Dec. 6.) I consider myself a very strong supporter of Israel, but Wayne Laugeson’s interview with Mitchell Bard left me wondering about several things.
First, I’ll point out that questioning how to create the best, most secure future for Israel is a question more widely discussed and includes a much broader spectrum of opinions among Israelis themselves than in the United States.
I’m particularly intrigued by the following parenthetical assertion: “(T)he area between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River” constitutes “(all of Israel.)”
Well, certainly proponents of Eretz Israel would argue that’s the case, but it’s not settled fact by a long shot, even among Israelis (most of whom are willing to accept a two-state solution, as long as their security is considerably improved). And, of course, Palestinians probably have some thoughts, too.
That little parenthetical, I fear, strips away the veil from Wayne’s agenda. It sure doesn’t sound like something Bard would have said, anyway.
Wayne? Am I wrong?
Clay Evans/Niwot
Iran and the bomb
(Re: “Iranian nukes: new intelligence or new agendas?” The Danish Plan, Dec. 6.) Please consider the following facts when writing stories concerning Iran:
Iran has been identified as the world’s leading state sponsor of international terrorism, funding Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and Hamas, as well as Shiite insurgent groups. Iran is even recruiting its youth and students across the Middle East for suicide operations against Western targets.
The president of Iran believes he is creating an Islamic “superpower,” which will bring down the West, including the United States. He says that he will have hundreds of millions of Muslim “holy raiders” eager to become martyrs.
Iran claims to have 3,000 working centrifuges. If they continue to operate successfully they will create enough fuel for a nuclear weapon in a year. Why, given that the president of Iran has said he wants to dominate the world, would we think Iran’s nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes?
The Iranian president calls the Holocaust a “myth” and frequently calls for the destruction of Israel. If we do not act, we run the risk of placating an extremist and making the same mistake we made with Hitler, which led to World War II and the deaths of millions.
We must act now, using more economic diplomacy and greater economic pressure, to help prevent a war.
Justin Milauckas/Golden
Leaders around the world, led by France and the United Kingdom, are still strongly convinced of the Iranian will to build a nuclear weapon and are still supporting new sanctions against Iran despite the new report, which contains numerous ambiguities about Iran’s intentions and progress towards creating a bomb. In fact, buried within the report is a statement that Iran could potentially enrich enough bomb-grade uranium within 12 to 18 months to create nuclear weapons.
Iran’s extremist regime is still supporting terror and bragging about its nuclear pursuits and capabilities. Sanctions must continue and be increased!
Herbert Buchwald/Denver
When bigger is better
(Re: “Hummer owners, big egos,” In Case You Missed It, Dec. 6.) In response to the big vehicles/big egos editorial, it is not all cut and dried that that is the case. I drive a full-size van that is pushing 6,000 pounds loaded. As I’m a carpenter (tradesman need a larger vehicle to work on your dwellings), I need to be able to haul tools and materials to the job site. I also lived in this vehicle for six years, which means I had no house emitting pollution. The vehicle has many uses... camper/home, work truck, on-site storage when idle, etc. Even though the vehicle appears large, the engine is a V-6, which is more efficient, but not detectable from the outside. The key thing here is not the size of the vehicle but the consciousness of the owner. For the past two years, I’ve driven 5,000 or fewer miles per year. If a vehicle is large and not as easy to drive as, say, a Prius, one is more likely to use an alternative form of transportation as in biking, bus or walking, all of which I do as much as possible. This is not 100 percent depending on weather, time constraints, etc., but I try to only drive it when I’m hauling something other than myself and while making the most of any given outing by planning. Such things as maintaining tire pressure and not speeding are also key ingredients. I hate to guess how much fuel is being wasted every day just by these two things alone. A Prius driving 20,000 miles per year is making more of a carbon imprint than my large vehicle driving 5,000. I see the possible problem of a super-energy efficient car being that one may think they can drive all they want because of this efficiency, which could result in more pollution. Just another perspective. Thank you.
Greg Miller/Boulder
Democrats betray us
OK. This is it. I feel betrayed and duped by my Democratic Representative to Congress. What does the Democratic Party stand for any more? I just learned that Rep. Mark Udall, of Colorado’s District 2 voted for H.R. 1955, the Homegrown Terrorism Protection Act of 2007. If it passes in the Senate, Bush will not veto it. This is just one more example of an increasingly authoritarian government in Washington giving itself more power while removing the protection of privacy, liberties and due process from citizens. I am shocked. The Democrats used to stand for the people. Democrats used to stand for peace. Democrats used to protect our rights. This legislation, on the heels of the Patriot Act, Homeland Security, Executive Orders, etc., which have already given the government unprecedented power over the people, sets any one of us up to be jailed without recourse if our words are considered to be “promoting an extremist belief system.” All the federal government has to say is that we are using planned or threatened force, which does not have to be violent. I am outraged. My Christmas prayer is that Mark Udall’s run for the U.S. Senate is crushed. Is there anyone left out there with a shred of sanity? Or is this an “extremist belief”?
Ellyn Hilliard/Longmont
CORRECTION: Because of a typographical error, the telephone number for The Lesson Studio, a local private music instruction studio, was incorrect. The correct telephone number is 303-543-3777. Boulder Weekly regrets the error.
Respond: letters@boulderweekly.com
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