PUBLIC FORUM AMERICA'S GOAL.

For all those protesting America's intervention in Iraq to liberate the oppressed, for all those government officials, foreign and domestic, proclaiming America's goals in Iraq are colonial, for all those Iraqi officials declaring America's interests imperialistic, I offer the following:

At a recent event in England, the Archbishop of Canterbury asked Secretary of State Colin Powell if our plans for Iraq were just an example of empire building by President George W. Bush? Powell answered, ``Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return.''

- Darwin M. Ochs

Lancaster

Real support

An excellent way to support our troops is for the federal government to pay $1.25 million to the families of those military personnel killed in action in Iraq. This is the same sum paid out to the families of the World Trade Center tragedy who lost a family member.

I daresay that none of those working in the World Trade Center were on food stamps, as are the families of many of our military personnel. It's a small pittance to pay out when comparing the overall daily cost of this engagement. Certainly, our members of the House and the Senate have taken care of their spouses through their overly generous pension system after their demise and those spousal benefits are in the millions. Let's support our troops and their families.

- Gary Schechter

Woodland Hills

Before he gets meaner

Mohammed Daud (Your Opinions, March 27) says that the United States is like a heavyweight boxer pounding a baby (Iraq). Unfortunately, this baby (Saddam) is a lot like the ``Chucky doll'' baby in the horror movies. He has already killed a lot of people in and out of his playpen, using his chemical and biological (and he'd love to get nuclear) toys.

Another analogy: It is smarter that we stomp on this mean rabid mouse (Saddam) before he fulfills his ambition of becoming a big vicious nuclear rat.

- Dan Adam Goodman

Burbank

A real shock

I was amazed by the ``Shock and Awe'' campaign being waged against Baghdad. Not only nonsporting, but a form of ``terrorism'' in itself. Being a nonpacifist and conservative I think this war, unlike the 1991 campaign, is couched in fraud. Bush will soon accommodate all those able-bodied, 17-to-50-year-olds, the ``Stevenson Ranch'' types, that support the war and want to liberate Iraq.

Bush intends to reinstate the ``draft.'' Very soon, these war supporters will ``support our troops'' and be in shock and awe when marching into North Korea against 2 million well-trained militia. Congress need not ratify said draft, but will anyway, a la this war and the ``Patriot Act,'' and I can assure you that the Thomas and Scalia types will ratify said draft.

- Ron Nicoll

Glendale

Know first hand

I came to this country from Cuba at age 11 in 1963, seeking justice and freedom from Fidel Castro's oppressive regime. I, along with others who left Cuba for the same reason, know firsthand what it is to live in fear. I love the USA and all it stands for.

I love President George W. Bush, and admire his character and his beliefs, and it is really a shame, by some which I have encountered who are so very critical of both the USA and our president. I have a suggestion to make. How many of you who are critical of our government and its actions are willing to trade and go live either in Cuba with Castro or in Iraq with Hussein?

- Lilly Gonzalez

Canyon Country

New focus

I am one of those who thinks that the war in Iraq is a mistake and that the Bush administration has demonstrated unprecedented ineptitude in its foreign policy. However, I realize that the bell of war has been rung and cannot be unrung. No demonstrations are going to lead to the withdrawal of our troops before they accomplish their mission, which would be an error as egregious as the one that put them there.

I believe that our focus now should be on trying to influence the aftermath of the war, to ensure that our leaders do not engineer another Afghanistan and depart without meeting our obligations to the people of Iraq. Our other goal should be to defeat President Bush in the next election.

- Morris Schorr

Woodland Hills

This enemy

Time for a reality check, President Bush. Get your generals off their behinds and onto the battlefields - and when they get there tell our kids the truth about what they're being asked to do for us. This is a bare- knuckle, bad-ass, winner-take-all guerrilla fight with human bombs and terrorists who have the same goal as Hitler - world domination.

American 19- and 20-year-old kids are not prepared for the barbaric ferocity this enemy commonly uses toward its own and others. Have we got the guts for that kind of fight and the willingness to watch our kids being murdered on TV? If not, then get the hell back home and, this time, lock the door - because what has started is going to be with all of us for a long time.

- Linda Shaffer

Moorpark

Talk is cheap

As a Vietnam vet, I'm a little confused by other vets. Can someone tell me why my buddies died in Vietnam? Was it for patriotism or did they die because God was on our side?

To all you other people who want to support our troops - how about our homeless vets that our government ignores? Or the medical problems I have from the Agent Orange that I was sprayed with as a combat medic. It's only been 30 years and I'm still waiting to hear something. Why don't all you patriotic Americans take in a vet and help them get back on their feet? Talk is cheap.

- Alex Bey

Sunland

They know

In regard to the recent suicide act where an Iraqi killed four American soldiers when he blew up his taxicab. This preconceived act of terrorism flies in the face of those Iraqis that are claiming we are hateful and evil and infidels.

The cab driver's devised death plan was operating on the fact the American soldiers would come to his aid when he drove up to them and asked for help. Or how else would his terrorist act have worked? They know in their hearts who the evil ones are.

- Dave Tulk

Northridge

Responsibility

The Iraqi suicide bomber who killed four American soldiers is responsible for the deaths of the seven women and children killed later.

I was a front-line soldier in Germany during World War II, so I understand why they shot at a car that refused to stop. I was never faced with exactly that same situation but I was always ready to shoot when we met civilians and made sure that they were not armed or hiding their soldiers.

- Raiford L. Langford

Sherman Oaks

Ill-informed

After reading several letters by those opposed to our war effort, I have come to the conclusion that most of these writers are very ill-informed. When I read that ``civilians are shooting at us,'' perhaps the writer is simply ignorant of the fact that Fedayeen Saddam will kill the families of the gunmen who refuse.

When I read ``innocent civilians are dying'' perhaps that writer is ignorant of the fact that Iraqi thugs are shooting fleeing civilians in the back. When I read ``there isn't sufficient evidence Saddam possesses banned weapons,'' perhaps the writer is ignorant of the several banned scuds shot down by Patriot missiles. I suppose if liberals were more informed they would cease being liberal.

- Glenn Smith

Woodland Hills

Hahn's old tricks

Mayor James Hahn is still up to his old tricks - promises but don't follow through. I saw the Daily News article about taking down shoes over power lines. Since we've had them in front of our house for months, I called the same day - I was told they'd be gone in 24 hours.

I waited a week, called again - and was assured it would be taken care of. Another week has passed and the shoes are still there. Meanwhile, Hahn's patting himself on the back.

- Helena Walle

Reseda