U.S. needs to make voice for peace heard

Re “U.S. Pressures North Korea Over Missile,” June 20

North Korea is producing a missile capable of reaching U.S. territories in the Pacific Ocean, and Iran is becoming a nuclear power. Do we realize that this is the result of a strong superpower foreign policy? We -- that is, the Bush administration -- allow ourselves preemptive strikes and invasions and designate countries as enemies. Is it any wonder that these enemy countries feel threatened?

Instead of spreading democracy in the world, we are strengthening totalitarian regimes. There was a rather strong democratic opposition in Iran; now we don’t hear much about it anymore. The real voice for democracy is a voice for peace, and nuclear proliferation can be stopped only by nuclear disarmament, with us being the model.

HERBERT LEHNERT

Irvine