Letter: Peace is worth a shot

Republicans and right-wingers need to come up with a better storyline of Neville Chamberlain’s appeasement policies. Everyone was appeasing Adolf Hitler’s Germany in the ’30s. The French, English, Russians and U.S. were all hoping and buying time. Some U.S. companies were doing big business with Nazi Germany, as well. In the meantime, Germany was illegally rearming.

Right-wingers act as if Chamberlain is in Obama’s Cabinet. They forget the CIA in Eisenhower’s administration put the shah of Iran in power in place of an elected official. Also, under the Reagan administration, Iraq was armed. Later, that same administration sold arms to Iran. Illegally.

Then there was George H.W. Bush wisely going into Kuwait and getting out ASAP. Worst of all are George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. The near-term history makes them look as bad as they were. The U.S., the Middle East and our military and economy are still paying for that huge mistake.

So really there are three things our country and government can do: 1) At least strive for and try peace. 2) Bomb the living hell out of Iran with Israel. 3) Wait.

What is wrong with trying to do the right thing, especially if you can back it up? Obama and the U.S. are no Great Britain of the 1930s — that is for sure. The Iranians know the U.S. is the only country that has dropped nukes on another. They also must be aware of Israel’s nuclear capability and kick-ass attitude. Also, there is Saudi Arabia.

I think the problems here are the ultra-right-wing hardliners in Iran. In Israel. In the United States. They and all the companies and countries that arm the whole Mideast. They are the crazy fundamentalists, and they do not want peace.

Miles Knudson

Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Aspen