PUBLIC FORUM.

Rove clouds the issue

Re ``Rove to La Raza'' (July 12):

Karl Rove proved that the Bush administration refuses to distinguish between legal and illegal immigration. Rove continues the policy to deceive the American people by purposely avoiding the key word ``illegal.'' His claim that the ``debate had clouded the views'' is an undeniable falsehood. It is he who is the one clouding the illegal-immigration issue in a deliberate attempt to mislead the American public.

The president, his administration, and many pandering politicians such as John McCain, Barbara Boxer, Ted Kennedy and more combine legal with illegal immigrants in order to bamboozle the issue and legitimize the illegal-alien invasion. Rove continues the administration's trickery to hoodwink the American people to justify the proposed amnesty and generous benefits for illegal immigrants.

-- Mort Arditti

Los Angeles

No political solution

Re ``Israel invades Lebanon after raid'' (July 13):

For the 13 years since the so-called Oslo Peace Accords, Israel has faced unprecedented terrorism on its citizens. World opinion has forced Israel to rely on defensive efforts, physical deterrents, and limited retaliation or offensive initiatives. No other nation in the world would have done this at the expense of thousands of its innocents.

Hezbollah's unprovoked offensive in the north and Hamas' continued terrorism in the south have made it clear that: There is no political solution to Palestinian terrorism; international public opinion is never satisfied with Israeli concessions; and Israel should change its strategy and strive for a decisive victory.

-- Gary Curtis

Van Nuys

Soldier's mother

Re ``Media's treatment of troops isn't fair'' (Their Opinions, July 13):

It's just too bad that Thomas Sowell's opinion is in the very last pages of the paper instead of on the front page. Our troops are willing to do more for this country than most Americans and yet they are covered so unfairly. Thank you, thank you, for voicing what so many people know. Now if the good publicity would get out there with half the push as the bad.

There is a book out called ``Blood Stripes, The Grunts View of the War in Iraq,'' written by David Danello. (Fallujah 2004) You may find it enlightening. It shows what our soldiers have had to deal with in a tough few months. (I am a mother of one of the soldiers interviewed for the book.)

-- Kristy Howell

Palmdale

Round them up

Re ``Mob attacks kill dozens in Sunni enclave'' (July 10):

The powers that be in Iraq are treating the terrorist murders about as seriously as an ice cream social. What is the matter with them? They must grab the horns and control these bulls. They must stop this by incarcerating the criminals, and no action can be too drastic to protect the innocent Iraqis.

My suggestions: Set up fortified tent camps in the desert. Round up all unemployed non-Iraqis and hold them. Round up every unmarried, unemployed Iraqi, ages 16 to 60, and hold them. Keep all of them until terrorist attacks stop. Release them when they gain employment. Also, commit enough people to guard Iraq's borders to stop illegal entries until terrorist attacks stop.

-- Ralph Smathers

Newhall

No effective lobbying

Re ``Job irresponsibility'' (Our Opinions, July 10):

Although I agree with most of the editorial regarding City Hall's reaction to extreme animal-rights activists, I have to disagree with the last paragraph naming the Animal Defense League as effective lobbyists. As an activist, apathetic voters discourage me, but I would never promote the ADL's way. If they were effective, the elephants wouldn't still be at the zoo at all.

The ADL of Los Angeles has blogs and e-mail lists targeting various city officials and employees where they funnel incorrect, vicious rumors and call people childish names. I don't think that is the most effective way of dealing with any issue.

-- Kim Thompson

Granada Hills

Keep it English

Re ``Keep it simple: War of the wurdz'' (July 6):

I had a very hard time reading this article. The spelling did not simplify anything. All it did in many cases was switch position of the letters like ``noet'' for note and ``hoep'' for hope. I think aulwaez is supposed to be always or all ways. Americans speak and write English. The new text-messaging, etc., are shortcuts and r ez 2 read. But to read a book like that ... no.

We have enough problems with other languages in America. Let's keep English our real national language, regardless of what our paid politicians, Congress, say, and not confuse us.

-- Betty Jenkins

Chatsworth

Continued gridlock 

Over the years, we are continually bombarded with proposals to cut down on congestion and gridlock on our freeways. It seems strange to me that one of the most traveled and congested freeways, the 405, has not had a rapid transit corridor associated with it. A new high-occupancy-vehicle lane will be installed over the next few years, but no busway, subway or elevated train has been proposed along the 405. A major portion of our traffic from the San Fernando Valley flows over the 405 and to LAX and the industrial area surrounding it.

The ridership on our new busway indicates that Valley residents are open to rapid transit. In the past, there was talk of extending Reseda Boulevard. Could a Rapid Transit route be located there?

-- Garth Carlson

Reseda

We migrate, too

Re ``God Bless America'' (Your Opinions, July 2):

I wander if Estela Luizzi has ever traveled out of the country. My answer to her question is, yes, there are countries in the world to which people migrate, for whatever reasons they have. Not just to the U.S. Americans migrate to other countries, too.

-- Angela Coker

Van Nuys

Good for Laura Chick

Re ``Up to code'' (Our Opinions, July 12):

Good for Laura Chick. She seems to be the only hard worker in the city. Not only is the city lax on inspections on new construction, but they are turning eyes away from illegal residential construction.

We have several homes in our area with multiple families, sometimes five or six in a two-bedroom, one-bath home. Garages and patios are being boarded up to make additional rooms and RVs are being parked on the property to house additional families. Most are illegals. The city has just been giving us the brushoff as usual. The value of the neighborhood is dropping and it's about time the city starts doing its job.

-- Chuck Noble

Winnetka

Mirrors for the mayor

Re ``Mayor Villaraigosa's first year in office'' (July 2):

After looking at a year's photos of our mayor in his everyday activities, I have come to two conclusions: He had little or no time left after photos to do his mayoral tasks; he needs two mirrors -- one giant magnifier to see himself as he makes his promises to the people, and one tiny mirror to see himself as he sees the promises actually fulfilled.

The streets still have potholes and the LAPD still needs the numbers promised. Maybe after this fiasco of trying to take over the school system, he will read his job description and will worry about his own bailiwick. He has never seen a camera that he did not like and we all can recognize him now.

-- Ira Kaplan

Woodland Hills

June Allyson

Re ``June Allyson, World War II `girl next door,' age 88'' (July 11):

Ah, Junie Allyson, you were the epitome of Hollywood as I sat in New England dreaming of going west into films. You could do it all without filthy dialogue, decolletage to your navel or Tinseltown addictions and afflictions.

You will be remembered by many little boys as the always-smiling princess and by the soldiers of your generation who voted you the one they would like to take home to meet their mom.

-- Paul Vaughn

Van Nuys