PUBLIC FORUM.

Primarily sexual

Re ``Men misjudge women's attraction'' (June 17):

Researcher Maurice J. Levesque has drawn the correct conclusion from his study: men misjudge women's sexual attraction for them, thinking it is present when it isn't. But no woman needs to be told when a man's interest in her is primarily sexual; he shows little interest in what her nonsexual life is like. Thinking the attraction is mutual, he is always in a rush to bed and won't give the relationship any time.

If the woman delays sex until she is interested, he huffs off. This seems to be a universal masculine proclivity to this behavior as it is encountered with men of any race or national origin. Clearly, women are only sex objects to many men -- our humanity bores them.

-- Geri A. Mellgren-Kerwin

Burbank

A little leadership

Re ``Berman with GOP on Iraq'' (June 17):

Congressmen Howard Berman and Brad Sherman voted with the Republican majority to continue supporting the administration's war policy. It was depressing to read Berman's rationale for voting to continue the war and even more depressing to know that Brad Sherman just sat there and didn't even vote. What kind of representatives are they?

The majority of Americans are opposed to the war and don't want it to continue or be further confused with the the war on terrorism. Maybe Berman and Sherman should follow the lead of the Dixie Chicks. Three years after being denounced for criticizing President George W. Bush, they repeated their statement against the war. And their records sales show that their fans agree.

-- Frank Becker

Hidden Hills

Wasting time

What a hoot. To think that a congressional ``nonbinding resolution,'' or any mention of a date-certain withdrawal from Iraq would give terrorists a heads up. They must think terrorists are deaf, blind and stupid and wouldn't notice troop withdrawals. They wouldn't notice that any more than they didn't know that various U.S. entities were monitoring their e-mails and phone calls long before the American people were aware of the practice.

Instead of wasting their time and our money on this nonsense, Congress should search newspaper articles showing that both the president and prime minister of Iraq have publicly stated they want a date for U.S. withdrawal from our government.

-- Sandy Sand

West Hills

Social Security thieves

Re ``Thieves flourish as Social Security digits not verified'' (June 17):

That thieves flourish as they use Americans' Social Security numbers proves two points. One: When you break the law coming into this country illegally, it is easy to break the law again and again.

Two: That these same illegals don't pay their way. If you noticed, the vast majority of the 81 users of Audra Schmeirer earned less than $15,000 a year. That is why our hospitals, schools and social services are going broke and need more taxes to continue. Just wait till you apply for your Social Security benefits and you find that these illegals applied before you did.

-- Joseph Nicassio

Valencia

Speaking of bashing

Re ``KO Coulter'' and ``Vile and hostile'' (Your Opinions, June 16):

How quickly we forget. Forget that the right wing hounded Clinton for eight years. Forget that all talk radio, except for one station, is controlled by the right and constantly bashes liberals with the likes of Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Hannity, etc. Forget that it is big corporations that own the media.

No, it is not the liberals that ``have a whole army of hate-filled windbags on the attack.'' It is the Republicans doing this to the Democrats. And, since the Republicans have control of the Congress, Senate and White House, they're the ones calling the shots.

-- Sarah Brock

Los Angeles 

He didn't go, did he?

Re ``Bush springs visit on Iraqis'' (June 16):

Our president has proved once again, as he did during the Vietnam War and once before in Iraq, that he will enter any combat zone where his safety is ensured by spending millions of dollars of taxpayers' money. Oh, that's right, he didn't go to Vietnam. Sorry.

-- Michael Smith 

Tarzana