PUBLIC FORUM DON'T TRUST THE U.N.

The war in Iraq is going extremely well. But every lost American hurts me deeply, having been in their boots in Korea a mere 50 years ago. I believe fewer would have been killed if the president had not been suckered into going to the U.N. by Colin Powell. By doing so, it eliminated any pre-emptive advantages, more favorable climatic conditions and allowed Saddam time to bolster his forces - all three being responsible for American loss of lives.

Hopefully, the president will learn from this mistake and never again place the safety of America in the hands of the U.N. And finally, I hope that soon our troops will hear the five most beautiful words I heard in Korea: ``Pack up, you're going home.''

- Paul Wasserman

Northridge

Who is next?

Whom is George W. Bush going to attack next? He is quoted in the April 14 Daily News as saying, ``There are chemical weapons in Syria.''

Let me think for a minute. Doesn't North Korea have nuclear weapons and missiles that can reach Los Angeles, that have the capability to wipe out the whole city, cleanly? I do not think Syria is as big a threat as North Korea is.

I think Kim Jong Il is crazy enough to drop a nuclear bomb on the city of Los Angeles. I have one question I want to ask Bush and his administration: Why are you more willing to use diplomacy with North Korea then you were with Iraq? The way I see it, North Korea is, and has always been, a greater threat than Iraq. So why did we attack Iraq first? Maybe I need glasses.

- Nimish Patel

Chatsworth

Meaning of courage

Shaunn Cartwright's opinion (``Put it on the line,'' April 13) kind of sums up what I think. Until you've been beaten, denied medical care and bathroom facilities, water, having false charges filed against you, tortured, even executed like those civilians in Iraq, Shaunn doesn't know the meaning of courage.

The perils Shaunn says protesters face during their ``civil'' action are the consequence of that action. Shaunn should remember Sir Isaac Newton, as well as Martin Luther King Jr. and Ghandi. ``Civil'' disobedience started with Ghandi and ended with King. But the precepts they extolled are lost on Shaunn and other shortsighted protesters who can't even imagine what freedom is or the freedom of others.

- Michael Foxen

Canoga park

Cooks are great

I do not know if Lee J. Meyers (``Our POWs,'' Your Opinions, April 15) is a man or woman, but I think it very disparaging to say ``she is only a cook'' in reference to the female POW.

Cooks are very important to the Army and the Marines. They can't stay in one place and cook but must travel with their outfits, which are on the move. They do not hide and just come out at mealtime. This cook was a brave young woman. During World War II, my husband did K.P. with the head chef of the Waldorf Astoria. He learned a lot of neat cooking tips. Cooks are great.

- Madeline M. DeVore

Burbank

Scariest agenda

Tim Robbins is a 100 percent true American. The real haters of how America works - the right-wingers on corporatized talk radio shows when they're not auditioning for favor with Murdoch of ``19th Century Fox'' to sell their books or futures in hate radio - owe their jobs to the same affirmative action that promoted the careers of Bush and Cheney and corporatists who support the scariest agenda ever presented to dupe the American people.

Who can deny that if these right-wingers, who have held our American airwaves hostage, had their way, Robbins and all who disagree would be punished. Rather, we must prove to the world that freedom comes with impunity. Ditto-heads deserve it too.

- Zephirin Hymel

Valley Village

OK, you won

``To the victor go the spoils.'' As far as the military end of it, Operation Iraqi Freedom is over (I call it the war). Send the troops back home, give George his damn oil, let Dick Cheney and his gang go over with the Halliburton construction team and let those kids come home. They played their part in this game. My wish is to see the 101st Regiment return to Twentynine Palms to breathe new life into the town above Palm Springs - it's desert, it's hot, but it's home.

- Maryanne Thorpe

North Hollywood

Run on time

Re ``Busway name could reflect its home: Valley'' (April 17):

Who cares what the East/West busway is named? Get all the buses on some sort of schedule. And I would bet the so-called San Fernando Valley board has never once ridden the 561/233/156 lines down Van Nuys Boulevard, either in the morning or evening rush hours.

I do, every day. I see buses that break down daily, never run on time, and are sometimes up to an hour or more late because they are stuck on the 405 in traffic. And they honestly think this new 761 Rapid Bus will run every six minutes during rush hours. ``Things are getting better on the bus,'' they say. I think not.

- Bruce Roberts

Van Nuys

Inhumane event

Re ``Brief encounter'' (April 13):

Last Sunday's picture of two men forcing underwear on a goat for an event at the gay rodeo was unsettling at best. The gay community, known for its compassion and sensitivity, certainly did not display those attributes when they incorporated this inhumane event in the rodeo's schedule of entertainment.

If you think this event was not cruelty to animals but merely innocent fun, think again. Forcing any living thing to partake in an unnatural and distressing act is abuse. In addition, the printing of this picture in the name of journalism only added to the disrespect of living things.

- Mary Fishbach

Sherman Oaks

And we pay

The governor and his lemmings have reduced a multibillion-dollar surplus to a $35 billion deficit. Now they intend to make state residents pay for their mismanagement and malfeasance by imposing new taxes on the people they claim to represent.

Could we draw a parallel to other parts of the world? Make the people suffer while the leaders enjoy the good life until the new governing party takes over?

- Richard Promen

Tarzana

Taxing the workers

The Democrats in the California state Legislature are at it again. This time they want to raise taxes on gas, electricity, low-watt fluorescent bulbs, the Internet, credit union savings, phone service, wood products, wine and beer, soft drinks, bottled water, diapers (yes, that's right) and do away with your mortgage interest deductions.

Aren't these the people who claim they are for working families?

- Spencer Dunkirk

Valencia

Pillaging CEOs

I'm going to reserve judgment for now concerning the bonuses and benefits given to American Airlines executives as the company approaches bankruptcy. There may have been stock options due, which at this time may not be well received. There may have been a need to keep executives from a mass exodus when they were desperately needed.

But if this is simply a raiding of corporate assets by top executives knowing the company is doomed, then someone needs to go to jail. The raiding of corporate assets of failing companies by top corporate executives will stop only when top executives see fellow top executives led away in chains.

- Michael Hannin

Oxnard

Venomous Bill

Re ``Saddam took bunch of losers with him'' (Viewpoint, April 13):

I think the Daily News lowered its standards when it began printing the opinions of the venomous Bill O'Reilly. Even the pope doesn't escape his vitriol.

I always considered Thomas Sowell pretty sarcastic but compared to O'Reilly, he is sweetness and light personified.

- Marie Dailey

Los Angeles