Mideast ‘Democracy’

“Muslims Abhor the Double Standard,” by Graham Fuller (Commentary, Oct. 5), argues that the U.S. is hated in the Middle East because we prop up dictators and seem unwilling to share our democratic way of life. His argument makes some sense as it applies to Saudi Arabia and Oman but it completely fails to explain why the fundamentalists hate the more secular governments of Turkey, Jordan and Egypt. These are not perfect democracies, but they are certainly more democratic than the governments of Iraq and Afghanistan.

The terrorists aren’t interested in “good governance”--they have their own theocratic agenda. They must be crushed before we can afford the time Fuller says it takes to promote democracy.

Mimi Gerstell

Pasadena