Letters: America and the Mideast

Re “U.S. vows ‘justice’ for attack,” Sept. 13

In response to the killings of U.S. Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says that she and many Americans are asking, “How could this happen in a country we helped liberate in a city we helped save from destruction?”

The reality is, there are myriad haters within the nations we have sought to liberate and in which we have sought to instill the American values of democracy and stability. We learn once again that democracy is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Many prefer the path of violence and rage. This is the way it has always been.

America’s weakness is our desire to aid the oppressed. The beasts who killed Americans serve to demonstrate that where we are concerned, few good deeds go unpunished.

Oren M. Spiegler

Upper Saint Clair, Pa.

The old Chinese curse, “May you live in interesting times,” is more relevant than ever. We live in a very violent world. President Obama has promised justice; hopefully he will find a way to mete it out.

As far as our future relationships in the Middle East, all I can say is I don’t think we will find common ground. These attacks were not provoked by an obscure anti-Islam movie. They were provoked by hatred.

I have a simple solution: Pull out every American ambassador, soldier, sailor and intelligence operative working in the Mideast. Let’s not sacrifice one more American life. I am fairly certain Israel can handle whatever comes its way, as its people at least understand that they are hated. We haven’t quite caught up with that simple truth.

Chuck Rinaldi

Huntington Beach

Many people died in Afghanistan after a crackpot U.S. pastor announced plans to burn the Koran. Secretary of State Clinton’s motorcade was attacked in Egypt because people there believed conspiracy theories started in the U.S. Now comes the violence in Libya and Egypt, supposedly because of a hate-filled film about Islam.

People of the world must be repeatedly told that in the U.S. even the most backward, unfeeling, frightened people have access to the most powerful communication tools the world has ever seen. Please, don’t believe everything you read or hear from an American radio host, religious zealot or political candidate. We don’t, and neither should you.

Richard Green

San Clemente

Re “Romney campaign is quick with criticism,” Sept. 13

It is just appalling to me that Mitt Romney would blast the president for not responding in a more bellicose way. The old saying used to be that politics stop at the nation’s shores, meaning that in foreign policy the country must speak with a unified voice, especially in times of crisis.

Our country deserves a principled presidential candidate with the good sense to keep his mouth shut when he should know better. Romney should have supported the president on this one.

Joseph Bonino

Glendale

Once again, our country is coping with unprovoked actions by radicals against our sovereignty abroad. The deaths of Stevens and his staff in Libya are very disturbing and tragic.

It’s disgusting and shameful for anyone to try to make political points during this time of national mourning. Let us come together as a nation with a common purpose and remember these exceptional patriots who laid down their lives for our great country.

Joe Martinez

El Segundo

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