FRIDAY'S LETTERS: Conrad Black, Three Editors Out, Iraq Policy

By: E&P Staff In today's letters, a reader writes in support of disgraced media baron Conrad Black, another hopes more editors will follow Dean Bquet and others out, and a reader maps out a plan for the U.S. in Iraq.

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Remember Alyssa

I have been reading "War and the Soul" by Ed Tick (a book I recommend) and then I came across [Greg Mitchell's] article about Alyssa Peterson. It makes sense in the context of this book. I am a minister at the center for Inner Peace in Pueblo CO and I would like to offer some reflections based on a book discussion group we are holding on the above mentioned book:

Alyssa Peterson took her life to avoid participating in more torture. Her soul could not abide what was happening in Iraq. As such I believe the sacrifice of her life matches that of the Buddhist monks who immolated themselves in Vietnam during that war. She died rather than face having to be witness to more torture.

I am thankful for your attempts to bring this to light. It is a story that needs to be told!

My heart goes out to her and her family. She and her family are on our prayer list.

Rev. Neema Caughran
The Center for inner Peace
Pueblo, Colo.

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Defending Lord Black

Given the frenzied litigation industry in the U.S., it didn't seem overly surprising that someday Conrad Black's freedom-loving principles, global enterprises, and capitalist successes would somehow be drawn into a state-side legal forum. What is surprising however, is the range of petty and personal attacks upon his character that have conveniently "ramped-up" as his trial date approaches -- his detractors must be truly desperate.

Whether it's rallying support for a fabled Canadian army regiment, publishing the stories of corporate legends, or assisting in the maintenance of Western-democratic values, Conrad Black has always defended freedoms which mirror those of the U.S. republic. Although Black's peerage and many appointments within the Commonwealth may seem alien in the states he is still nonetheless a proven, dependable, and staunch defender of American values. Indeed, Conrad Black is equally deserving of greater public support on both sides of the border. When Black wins perhaps then the media and others will understand that his life is indeed in progress.

Ken Duff
Calgary, Canada

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Re: Three Editors Down, How Many More to Go?

Not NEARLY enough for me. One of these days, you leftist[s] are going to wake up and finally UNDERSTAND why your circulations are off, your stock is going down ... and your owners are laying off "journalists." Naah. Not anytime soon.

M. Burton
Atlanta, Ga.

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The Election and the Future in Iraq

The nation has spoken (even though with a softer voice than some would like). The people want the course in Iraq to change. The President wants victory in Iraq. ...

If we withdraw our troops from Iraq is that defeat? How do we know what victory is? The President argues that its having an Iraqi government that can defend itself. But the question is 'defend itself against who?' The government is controlled by the Shiites and the Sunnis are barely involved. The Kurds are fine with their semi-independence in the north. We are in the middle of the struggle for power between the Sunnis and the Shiites, and as long as we are in the middle the two sides will never come to an agreement.

The United States should withdraw from Iraq's interior and secure the borders keeping non-Iraqis out, and let the Shiites and Sunnis figure out how to compromise with each other (and both reach compromise with the Kurds). If they refuse and continue to kill each other, then eventually one side will win and the civil war will be over. Our job should be to just prevent Iran, Syria or anyone else from meddling in the internal affairs of Iraq and that can best be achieved by sealing the borders and let the Iraqi factions work out their differences without our troops dying in numbers now greater than those who died on 9/11.

Jay Curtis
Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.