Letters to the Editor
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
‘Democrats Press Bush on Saudis’
Re: Senators Kerry and Biden saying that President Bush is too soft on the Saudis [“Democrats Press Bush on Saudis,” Eli Lake, Page 1, April 26, 2005].The article states:
“Senator Biden [said he] would favor a radical restructuring of America’s relationship with Saudi Arabia. ‘Am I going to invade your country? Hell no. Are we going to depose you? Hell no. But let me tell you: Are we going to supply the physical security for your continued existence? I don’t know,’ he said.”
What kind of statement is that? What specifically would the great senator do to balance our competing interests with the Saudis? When it comes to action, all he seems able to do to make himself useful is to get in the way of meaningful action. The statement has all the temperament of an attack, but would Mr. Bush or anyone invade or depose the Saudis? As to supplying physical security – Mr. Biden doesn’t answer. Like every other piece of nonsense from this senator’s mouth, it sounds like something but amounts to nothing. Unfortunately, Democrats enjoy meaningless rage.
BILL SIEGEL
Manhattan
‘A Bad Approach to Terror’
Re: “A Bad Approach to Terror,” Daniel Pipes, Foreign, April 19, 2005. As the U.S. director of Conflicts Forum, I welcome the comments on our work and on Hamas made in your newspaper by Daniel Pipes. Mr. Pipes is certainly known for his support for democracy, and has been an outspoken advocate for our nation’s war on terrorism. We join him in this and in his seeming support for our work to spread democracy in the region.
But we take exception with his often breathless desire to raise unsubstantiated fears about Hamas’s goals. How can we Americans build security for our nation and promote democracy in the Middle East? When it comes to Hamas, it seems to me that we have three choices: we can bomb the organization and attempt to kill its members, we can ignore it, or, we can engage it in a dialogue that might, just might, lead to a better chance for peace.
Hamas is now putting forward candidates for legislative elections to be held in the West Bank and Gaza in July. The prospects are that they will win a substantial number of seats. Should we deny them their chance at democracy? Should we now criticize them for confirming the democratic values that we hold dear? It seems to us at Conflicts Forum that we must do everything in our power to support those in the Middle East who have opted to build their societies on those values that we hold dear – of justice and peace, of accountability and transparency.
Conflicts Forum is an independently funded organization that does not accept any monies from any government. Our dialogues are underwritten by a British nongovernmental organization, the Roberts Centre. We are not a front for any political agenda except our own. The Americans who we hosted in an exchange with the Hamas leadership are known for their patriotism and sobriety.
MARK PERRY
U.S. Director
Conflicts Forum
Washington, D.C.
‘Charlie Winans’
Re: “Charlie Winans, Inspirational Teacher,” Stephen Miller, Page 1, April 25, 2005. Thanks to Stephen Miller and The New York Sun for this article. Charlie Winans was one of the best things about growing up in Brooklyn.
REVEREND FRED SAATO
Stamford, Conn.
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