The only solution is to eliminate the enemy

In response to the July 18 editorial "Stop the Fighting: Resume Talks Toward a Middle East Solution": Why does the Post-Gazette believe the current confrontation will end with peace talks?

First, Israel is just defending itself. The Hezbollah killed and kidnapped several Israeli soldiers. Israel said it would consider stopping the bombings when the kidnapped soldiers were returned. Hezbollah has rejected that offer.

Second, Hezbollah is a terrorist organization based in Lebanon. Lebanon may not have the firepower to remove Hezbollah, so it is up to Israel to do so.

Third, President Bush is not "seeking to shift blame to Syria and Iran," as the editorial says. These are two countries that are directly responsible for the presence of Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The peace process will not work this time. This is what the war on terror is all about. Eliminate the enemy, not sit down and have tea and cookies with them.

GREG MALENKY
Ross

---

The human tragedy

Having spent the last semester at the American University of Beirut, I am afraid that the Lebanese side of the story has been glossed over. I just heard back from a friend in Beirut, who had this to say:

"It's tough being here in Beirut, where you can hear all the bombs. We're under house arrest and are watching the news 24/7. This summer was supposed to be the best, you know. Hopefully this will all just blow over."

Maybe personalizing this tragedy of collective retribution against the Lebanese is the only way Americans will understand.

BRIAN CONWAY
West Mifflin

---

Odd democracy

Regarding Thomas Friedman's July 17 column ("A Failing Experiment: Middle East Democracy Is Being Hijacked by Those Who Resist It"): Hijacked? No one asked for our help or a democracy in Iraq that I am aware of. If I remember correctly, we went into Iraq so we wouldn't have a mushroom cloud over our heads. Somewhere along the line our reasoning shifted to saving Iraq from a dictator and giving Iraqis a democracy. There's a good 180.

We have ruined their economy, destroyed their cities, trashed their utilities, bombed their mosques and homes, taken their livelihoods, made parents fear for their children's lives, raped, murdered and tortured them, put them in prison without legal counsel and in the process made their country a breeding ground for terrorists. Not to mention killing more than 100,000 of them. Democracy?

Now after three years of war, most Iraqis and Americans want us out of Iraq. The death toll for the Iraqi people is worse than anything they had been used to for several years before we chose to be their savior. We have committed the same sort of atrocities toward the Iraqi people as the people we claim to be freeing them from.

Hijacked? A democracy is the will of the people. If most Iraqis and Americans want us out of Iraq, the democratic thing to do is leave. Something is being hijacked, and it is democracy, but who are the real hijackers?

It seems to me that we are doing the same for the Iraqis as we did for the American Indian. God help them.

JAMES MacDONALD
West End

---

Thanks all-around

There was no doubt about it. Pittsburgh scored a home run as the host city for the 2006 All-Star Game. We hit the ball out of the park and across the Allegheny River as more than 31 million viewers tuned in to see Pittsburgh shine. And, what great advertising. Media outlets everywhere applauded PNC Park and Pittsburgh. How proud VisitPittsburgh is of this city.

A special thank you goes to Kevin McClatchy and the Pittsburgh Pirates for being instrumental in bringing the All-Star Game back to Pittsburgh. Hats off to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, the city of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and the Pittsburgh Cultural District, all of which comprised a community All-Star committee led by George Morgan, chairman of VisitPittsburgh's Sports Marketing Task Force.

The hospitality community delivered major league service throughout the week as did the transportation community and the labor unions that Major League Baseball called "the best they've ever worked with." Attractions and retail delivered enticing promotions and special events. And the 1,600 volunteers and other organizations whose enthusiasm energized the city certainly hit a home run.

All-Star status goes to Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O'Connor's Redd Up Pittsburgh campaign and to county Chief Executive Dan Onorato's unfailing support.

Kudos to the Pittsburgh Police Department, River Rescue and all of the security teams that helped ensure a safe environment.

And, most important, we extend a hearty thank you to the citizens of Pittsburgh who showed the nation what makes this city great ... its people!

JEFF LETWIN
Chairman of the Board
VisitPittsburgh
Downtown

---

Give cabbies credit

Last week, Pittsburgh had thousands of All-Star fans visiting our city. Some media, such as some radio talk shows, seemed quick to criticize the cab drivers, and we feel it is important to share our views.

All of us, the cab drivers of Pittsburgh, did the best we possibly could to ensure that all visitors were provided service to and from their hotels, the airport, PNC Park and the convention center itself.

Because there are fewer than 300 cabs on the road, we were faced with round-the-clock business. The majority of the drivers worked extremely long hours to ensure that everyone managed to get where they needed to go. We too were faced with traffic restrictions and lack of designated areas in which we could drop off and pick up our passengers at the convention center and at PNC Park.

However, upon speaking to our passengers at the end of their trips here, they all seemed to be leaving with a new perspective of Pittsburgh. So, please, give us some credit and keep the negativity away from the transportation providers and all of the drivers.

We dedicated ourselves and sacrificed time away from our families to help the visitors of our city leave with a good impression, and we believe we accomplished our goal.

LAURA WALKER
Hopewell

---

Coulter is brilliant

In reply to the July 9 letter, "All-Around Ugliness," from Ellen Pierson who blasted Ann Coulter, I would like to see her most recent Miss America photo.

Whether she likes it or not, Ann Coulter is a genius. A brilliant woman.

ROSE M. McELLIGOTT
Shadyside

---

Honest, dedicated city employees are being treated like thieves

In regard to the article "Fingerprint Time Clock Angers City Works Union" (July 18): I can think of numerous ways to spend $70,000, none of which would involve treating our city workers as criminals.

As a community organizer, I often call upon the Fifth Division employees, the supervisor (Bob Palmosina) and even the associate director (Rob Kaczorowski) on their cell phones during off hours to assist in community issues. Concerns often arise during off hours, when children play ball or events are scheduled.

Who clocks the employees' volunteer time? These employees dedicate a tremendous number of hours helping our athletic associations, community groups and residents with issues across the board. I have called to have lights turned on at 10 p.m. on a field, to have trash cleanup on a Saturday and even for a concession stand repair on a Sunday.

I have never been told it was off hours; these folks just pitch in whenever possible. Volunteering in our community, as I do, I know I am not alone in my requests. Many of our athletic associations and community groups in the southwest region can attest to the generous amount of time the Public Works employees devote to our organizations.

Why not use the money to hire additional employees? Do you honestly think the few workers who do not want to put in an honest day's work could not come up with a creative way to swindle time and money from the city? What happens during the time of punching in and out? Why not consider rewarding the employees who do well, instead of treating all employees like untrustworthy thieves.

THERESA SMITH
Westwood