Ariel Sharon

* While your Dec. 13 front-page article about Ariel Sharon was certainly interesting, the subhead celebrating Sharon as his nation’s “elder statesman” is unwarranted. If we are to look for an elder statesman in Israel today, there would be more universal agreement on (largely ceremonial) President Ezer Weizman.

Sharon remains a mere politician, and for him, as for his mentor Machiavelli, the ends do indeed justify the means.

RICHARD SHERMAN

Port Hueneme

* War criminal Sharon has yet to renounce terrorism.

PAUL TRACY

Oceanside