Gingrich Attacks Mideast ‘Road Map’

Re “Hawks Rip Into Mideast Plan,” April 23: The peace plan proposes a balanced and internationally supported “road map” to coordinate mutual concessions by Israelis and Palestinians.

Ex-House Speaker Newt Gingrich reiterates the same destructive policy of U.S. arrogance, unilateralism and insensitivity that paved the way for the 9/11 tragedy and for the current deplorable view of America as “the bully on the block.”

Are we so right and so moral that we don’t care how others see us? At our future peril!

Brice Harris

History Professor

Occidental College, L.A.

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Let me get this straight. Gingrich is more in tune with President Bush’s policies concerning the Mideast than Colin Powell, the secretary of State. And House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) believes the policies are “a confluence of deluded thinking between European elites, elements within the State Department bureaucracy and a significant segment of the American intellectual community.”

Yes, we should leave policy up to the out-of-the-loop, backward, stupid people like DeLay.

Bart Baker

North Hollywood

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Former Speaker Gingrich’s criticism of the State Department is accurate, precise, wise and long overdue.

Brian Elfand

Woodland Hills

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While the pace of change in these times can be unsettling, some things that stay the same can be frightening.

Take Gingrich. He remains nasty, shortsighted, brutish and mean.

Bill Stanton

Garden Grove

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Gingrich’s attempts to rebuild his political career through criticism of Powell will have an interesting effect on the perception of Bush.

The far-right wing of the conservative camp’s unhappiness with the State Department will give the appearance of moderation within the White House. I foresee the inter-party conflict as generating the impression of levelheaded and intellectual debates between various elements of the Bush foreign policy team where more than one opinion is being expressed during international conflicts.

This will counterbalance the antiwar message being portrayed of a team of oil barons deciding the fate of the world with devious harmony and ulterior motives. One can only hope that Bush does not succumb to internal pressures within his party and distance himself from Powell so that he can capitalize on this appearance of objectivity.

If the forces of reason prevail, Gingrich will lose his appeal and go the way of former Republican Pat Buchanan by becoming marginalized.

Steven Guess

Mission Viejo