Venezuela’s gadfly president and the U.N.

Re “Venezuela’s Chavez Pillories Bush, Denounces the U.N.,” Sept. 21

It’s clear the U.S. will have to deal with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad soon. Can you imagine if either man had nuclear weapons?

The spouting of venom and the taunting of the United States is reminiscent of a bully badgering his classmates. All these men offer to their countries is a false education, ongoing poverty, massive propaganda and terrible role models in leadership. For the United Nations to allow such evil into its corridors to brainwash the world is reason enough to finally dismantle the U.N. or require its members to be from free societies.

SCOTT THOMAS TRUNK

La Mirada

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These screaming, lunatic, punk dictators from Iran and Venezuela remind me of Hitler and Mussolini. The punk from Iran wants to exterminate all the Jews, and the pitiful little punk from Venezuela is just trying to imitate Iran -- just like Hitler and Mussolini.

These miserable pieces of human debris don’t merit all the attention they are getting from the U.S. media or anyone else. It’s time to wake up, America, and realize who these maniacs really are.

I am proud to be an American, and I respect our president and our government. These crazed dictators should not deter us from promoting peace and freedom throughout the world.

DON WAGNER

Santa Monica

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Bravo, Hugo Chavez. I’m glad someone was speaking for me at the U.N.; President Bush never has and never will. I too have been smelling sulfur, since 2000.

KIMBERLEY EDWARDS

Los Angeles

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The Times’ juxtaposition of front-page articles on Bush’s rising poll numbers and Chavez’s speech at the U.N. denouncing Bush spoke volumes. If only Chavez could vote in the U.S.

TIM VIVIAN

Bakersfield