PUBLIC FORUM BIGGER PATTERN.

Re ``See the pattern?'' (Your Opinions, April 20):

G. Douglas Smith laments the ``patterns'' he sees in the U.S. focusing her attention on Syria, then perhaps Iran, etc. Well, I see a pattern, too: embassy hostages in Iran, 444 days; U.S military barracks bombed in Beirut; Khobar towers; bombing of World Trade Center; U.S. embassy bombings in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam; USS Cole; World Trade Center and Pentagon on 9-11, just to name a few.

Yes, I see a pattern, too. And I thank God we finally have a leader for a president who will no longer wait for the terrorists to strike us again. We will now strike first, and on their soil. And if they're hiding, operating, preparing, practicing and planning in Syria, then to Syria we will go.

- Glenn Smith

Woodland Hills

Much to be done

I hope the anti-war forces keep protesting even though the Iraq conflict seems finally over. There are still too many things that greatly threaten the peace and happiness in our beloved country. One is the loss of our fine allies in Europe who were against the war and wanted the United Nations to disapprove of it.

The suspicion and hatred of millions of Muslims throughout the world probably will continue. Also the unending Israel-Palestinian war. Israel has defied the United Nations on scores of U.N. resolutions that were vetoed by the United States, a permanent Security Council member. We need peace on the Israel-Palestinian front. The United Nations, the European Union, Russia and even President Bush are all for it.

- John Mendez

Los Angeles

From us to them

Re ``Iraqi citizens begin slow, uneasy return to normalcy'' (April 20):

Anyone think to ask how such huge quantities of brand new consecutively numbered $100 bills wound up in Iraq? The answer is, direct from the Federal Reserve Bank in New York.

I'll bet all the notes are from the New York Fed, which pays out literally tons of $100 bills every week to oil-producing countries. Much of it goes to banks in Germany and Switzerland, but no doubt some goes directly to Iraq (and possibly other OPEC nations). Unlike drug money that consists of circulated notes of all denominations, oil payments are in crisp new $100 bills.

- Sol Taylor

Sherman Oaks

Grateful vet

Brian Baker's anger is sad, and his opinion is intolerant. Most of today's protesters are loyal Americans, including many veterans, who see no reason for this war and care very much about saving American service personnel and stopping unnecessary bloodshed. That's not ``siding with the enemy.'' It is taking adult responsibility for our kids.

I came home in 1968 to a city of people who generally opposed the war, yet welcomed and accepted me. I was lucky. They knew I was just a grunt doing my duty, not a policy maker. I thank them.

- Stan Bass

Glendale

Slashing VA funds

Overheard at the veteran's hospital: ``I feel sorry for our troops in Iraq. The government is cutting our budget drastically. We are losing staff here and making lots of cuts. I don't know how we will be able to take care of the kids coming back here for treatment.'' That from a hospital staff member.

The politicians in Washington have already announced slashing millions (if not more) from veteran-treatment funds. In other words, it is OK for them to send our youngsters overseas to be killed or wounded - but we have no funds to take care of them, if God forbid, they are in need of medical or hospital treatment. And, oh yes, we have billions to give these foreign countries.

- Frank Barron

Van Nuys

Looters first

Re ``Iraqis vent frustration'' (April 16):

It sickens me that some Iraqis are chanting, ``Down, down, USA'' when it is we who liberated their country. The U.S. is not responsible for the looting that took place. It further disgusts me that looting was the first thing many Iraqis chose to do. Instead of choosing to vote, engage in free speech, or give women rights, they chose to steal from their own people, and now they blame the U.S.

- Caroline Malloy

Reseda

A bad day

I've read reports that military recruiters are turning away citizenship- seeking, illegal-immigrant volunteers. If it weren't for the language barrier, together with education and legal residency requirements of course, recruiters could seemingly give us an all-immigrant - legal plus illegal - American enlisted-man military someday, with which to do our ultimate dirty-work ... the fighting,

The day our best, most patriotic, naturalized citizens and native-born, particularly our native-born men and women (of whatever ethnicity) succumb to the nonparticipatory temptations of a ``no borders, one world'' policy, that would mean the end-time for us as a truly sovereign nation. May it never happen, even if it means bringing back the draft.

- Harvey Pearson

Los Feliz

Nice jobs

Re ``Consultant gold mine - LAUSD paying to $300 per hour'' (April 20):

Where do I sign up to join ``Friends of Roy Romer?'' I would like to make $300 an hour for doing nothing too.

- Stuart Schaller

Valley Village

Field of nightmares

The Sheldon-Arleta Landfill has the following toxic wastes in it, based on the city of Los Angeles' own reports: benzene, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, methane, tetrachloroethane, toluene, vinyl chloride and xylene.

All of them cause grave consequences to people, especially children from infancy to 15 years old according to the Environmental Protection Agency. How can we allow our children to be exposed to this danger?

The children of our city and the San Fernando Valley deserve better treatment than this. Stop the madness.

- Jose Bonilla

Arleta

Cutting government first

California has a growth industry. It is called government. Instead of increasing burdensome taxes, how about cutting government salaries, hiring fewer people, stopping jaunts to other countries and tending to concerns here?

Any housewife over 50 knows more about economics and budget balancing than the highly paid people in Sacramento and L.A. Why don't they put their money where their mouth is, and give us some of ours back, by lowering taxes for a change?

- Joan Strieter

Mission Hills

Setting a bad example

Re ``Chilling trial testimony'' (April 18):

Prosecutors decided not to seek the death penalty for Jonathan Bolden in a brutal, gang-related, obviously premeditated (in one case), multiple murder. If this case doesn't have special circumstances ... Lord help us. This was an execution of a 14-year-old girl and then two killings related to a robbery.

These gang thugs don't care about human life ... it's been proven time and time again. Would the victims' families feel justice was done even if Bolden received consecutive life sentences? If it is true one of the purposes for capital punishment is deterrence of similar crimes, please, at least try to let the system work and set the correct example for these ruthless subhumans.

- R.M. Greer

Montrose

Eliminate tax cut

About a year ago, we gave the top 5 percent of the taxpayers a trillion- dollar tax cut over the next 10 years, assuming they would spend this money and stimulate this economy. In the past year, they didn't spend that tax savings to stimulate the economy. In fact, they cut back even more on their spending, except to give management higher bonuses.

I think it's about time we eliminate the rest of this tax cut for the rich and, instead, spread the rest of this trillion-dollar tax cut to the lowest-paid people. Then you will see the economy start improving rapidly. Everyone will have money to spend, they will spend it and the economy will boom.

- Stan Niedwicki

Woodland Hills