PUBLIC FORUM NOT PLAYTIME.

Regarding the Iraqi prison photos, war is not playtime; it is serious and we need to pay respect to our soldiers who are honorable and doing a good job. We take our eyes off the positive reasons for our being in Iraq and dwell on the negatives caused by hopefully only a few bad soldiers who do not represent our entire USA armed forces.

We need to pray for our soldiers who are risking their lives for our safety and for a better future for the people of Iraq.

- Cathy Heckler

North Hollywood

History shows

This is what happens in war, always has and always will. Both sides claim they are the good guys, both sides say that God is with them. When are we going to learn that we cannot invade a country and expect it to have democracy? Is that not what Russia used to do, invade countries to pass on its communist policies? How different is what we are doing?

Whether for the name of freedom or communism or any other, we cannot force our way of life on other people. History shows you will be hated and you will ``fall.''

- Nina Trotta-Sutton

Simi Valley

It's the election

My unscientific poll of ``Your Opinions'' mail shows something over 60 percent hate Bush/hate America. Most - if not all - is based on flawed information at best, and outright lies at worst. We are not the enemy. Terrorists - and the nations who harbor them - are. There were three reasons for going into Iraq. Not one - three. Open-minded folks will acknowledge this. And they will also acknowledge that none of the three has yet been proved false.

U.S. fifth columnists know that it is they - and not the military - who brought us defeat in Vietnam. They also know - desperately - that they lose all legitimacy if we win in Iraq. After all, it's not the country, stupid - it's the election.

- Mike Savell

Simi Valley

Liberal ships adrift

I must respond to the ``liberal idiots'' argument of late. I'm afraid it happens to be true. The choice of words may not be the best, but the facts are the same. Liberals are known as having ``all heart and no brains'' and it shows in their decisions. There are several examples of liberal failures being rescued by conservative resolve. New York, New Jersey and now California are three prime examples of liberal ships adrift being rescued by Republicans. I don't think you will find the reverse to be true anywhere.

And the war in Iraq is another example. Nobody likes war, nobody wants to see our brave military people harmed, but it just has to be done sometimes. It takes leadership and absolute resolve to make it work, not traits that liberals are known for.

- Kurt Hunter

Valencia

Transferring sovereignty

With the U.S. handpicking the interim government and retaining control over Iraqi security forces, it is a perversion of language to describe June 30 in Iraq as a transfer of sovereignty.

- Alan Benson

Newbury Park

Mothers' love

Re ``Rival gangs' mothers unite for peace'' (May 6):

Bravo to the gang members' mothers as they seek to bring an end to the killing of their sons. It was the mothers who ultimately helped bring ``The Troubles'' in Northern Ireland to an end.

- Marion H. Swarthout

Northridge

Budget slashed?

Re ``Arnold's budget gamble'' (May 14):

Great news. The budget has been slashed from $100 billion to ... $103 billion? What happens to simple math when entering a capitol in the United States? Neither California nor Washington have ever been able to cut a dime and continue to feed the ever-growing 800-pound gorilla called government spending.

Yet the claim eaten up by the press that we've cut to the bone is promoted. Where are the cutbacks? Who is losing a job? What pension is being reduced? Where is the austerity? How about the thousands hired by Gray Davis, still sucking up six-figure salaries? The only thing cut in this budget is service to the people of the state who are being bilked by the billions.

- Bob Driscoll

Woodland Hills

Ethics Commission

Ethics commission? Give us a break. Political favor is not purchased withthe paltry contributions that are ruled to be legal. Multimillion-dollarcontracts are not purchased by $500 legal donations.

Reform or no reform, politicians will always be purchased with under-the- table contributions. They always have and they always will. And anyone who thinks politicians will make rules that cut into their own income just isn't paying attention.

- Patrick Weir

Chatsworth

Hybrid SUV

Ford will be the first automaker to introduce a hybrid SUV. It will be out about the end of summer. They say their mileage will be around 35 to 40 mpg. The other auto manufactures will follow. They say it will produce less than one pound of pollutants per 15,000 miles. A light truck produces about 105 and a small car 65 per 15,000 miles. More miles per gallon, less trips to the pump, and cleaner air.

Until the hydrogen car is perfected, maybe the hybrids could be run off other fuels like compressed natural gas. Maybe fill up from the house. We could smile as we drive past the gas pump and not stop at all. Bye-bye OPEC, bye-bye oil companies, hello happiness - I think I'm going to cry.

- Mike Hoblinski

Burbank

Sun is rising

Re ``Light for Sun Valley'' (May 17):

Thank you for shining even more good light on the multiple positiveefforts under way in Sun Valley. As one of the founding stakeholders supporting development of Sun Valley's Watershed Management Plan, we think it is critically important to make a correction and share the spotlight with the key leaders who have championed the project since the beginning.

County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and the County Public WorksWatershed Management Division have provided the leadership and fundsto launch this large-scale innovative effort, and see it through. Further, the cleanup campaign and storm-water solutions could only be accomplished with the full participation of city leaders and agencies including council members Alex Padilla and Wendy Greuel.

- Andy Lipkis

President, TreePeople

Studio City

Latinos not a threat

Re ``Rising Latinophobia does America injustice'' (Viewpoint, May 16):

It is not true that the Spanish-speaking are a threat to the Anglo Protestant culture because they ``don't assimilate American culture.''

According to the Chicano Studies Department here at Los Angeles Valley College, 85 percent of Latinos born in the U.S. lose their identity when they marry another American, including a Mexican-American. I wonder why Mariel Garza focuses her fears on the Latino and not other communities when we are a melting pot society.

- Eduardo Davila

Van Nuys

Israeli settlers

Re ``Extremists are peace roadblocks'' (Their Opinions, May 18):

Thomas Friedman relies on a convenient set of statistics. Clearly his percentages actually involve two-thirds of a column devoted to his biased anti-Semitic tirade. Only in the final third of the piece does he devote some bilateral views to the subject of Iraq.

As to Friedman's ``question'' as posed, how dare he charge that Jewish settlers are prepared to sacrifice their ``followers and others.'' Settlers don't send out homicide bombers. To use his own words: Friedman's bias is both shameful and illegitimate.

- Emil L. Henen

Northridge

Settlers and al-Sadr

Re ``Extremists are peace roadblocks'' (Their Opinions, May 18):

Thomas Friedman suggests there is no difference between Jewish settlers in Israel and Muqtada al-Sadr. He couldn't be more wrong. Al-Sadr is working to destroy Iraq and prevent freedom in Iraq forever. Jewish settlers are only wanting to live peacefully in land that is disputed territory.

The settlers are already part of the only democracy in the Middle East. If the Palestinians wanted a real peace and wanted to include Jews in their society, all of Israel would welcome the change and there truly would be peace in the region.

- Marsha Roseman

Valley Glen