U.S. Action in Iraq

* Trying to corral Saddam Hussein is like trying to rope an eel--it won’t work! He delights in provocation; the “no-fly zone,” an attempt to put him in a straitjacket, can only go so far--how can you prevent planes from flying over their own country?

Saddam will have to be defeated, by his own opponents or if/when he commits aggression again outside Iraq. As it stands, it’s a cat-mouse game; Saddam realizes he can’t compete with the U.S. militarily and he learned from the Kuwait experience. He could be more politically formidable to President Clinton than Bob Dole.

GARY TRAXLER

Oxnard

* If Iraq is a sovereign nation, a member of the United Nations, why are we interfering in its internal squabbles? I don’t think it is right for us to make Iraq and its people grounds to train our military on use of weapons of massive destruction. This foolish conduct will alienate the Arabs everywhere and will threaten stability in the Middle East.

When are we going to stop such policies dictated by a minority group who have narrow self-interests and think of our long-term interests in that part of the world? Isn’t it a double standard to do nothing when Israel invaded sovereign Lebanon in 1984, killing 20,000 people, but act with swift vengeance in Iraq, which is acting in its own boundaries?

I am really ashamed that my tax dollars are being used to support our terrorist actions.

AHMAD A. HASSAN

Cerritos

* How does a country that has no funds for food and medicine have the funds to replenish its air force, tanks, etc., and to wage war?

Where is our CIA?

MERLE S. GLICK

Los Angeles

* The Times reports that Kuwait has been waffling on allowing U.S. troops to be deployed on its soil, whose stated purpose is to defend Kuwait (Sept. 17). On Sept. 8 the Okinawans voted overwhelmingly in a referendum to disallow U.S. troops to be stationed on the island.

This just has not been a good month to keep the world safe for democracy!

SYED PERVAIZ

Pasadena