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By Newsweek Editors
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Readers of Fareed Zakaria's Dec. 17 column on the impasse over Iran's nuclear program sent in their own views on the subject. Recalling the problems in Iraq, one wrote, "Don't mess with Iran." But another said, "Let's act before it's too late." A third claimed, "The greatest threat to world peace is America."
Averting Iran ' s Nuclear Threat
Fareed Zakaria's Dec. 17, 2007, column "Make Iran an Offer It Might Refuse" seems to overlook the fact that the United States has virtually exhausted all its means in bringing the Tehran regime to its senses. To suggest that a policy of carrots and sticks might actually produce results is not only myopic but thin in substance. The less-than-efficient (if not inaccurate) intelligence report on Iran's nuclear program could only have embarrassed Washington further. In the eyes of the world, its decision makers have failed miserably—time after time—to project the credibility and soundness of U.S. foreign policy. Please do not mess with Iran—haven't Iraq and Afghanistan given us enough headaches?
Venn-Tzu Chaan
Penang, Malaysia
New media reports about the recently released National Intelligence Estimate on Iran led readers and viewers to believe that the Islamic republic has ended its nuclear-weapons program. We know better. The Iranian president is pursuing an illegal nuclear program. Nations around the world, led by France and Britain, are still strongly convinced of the Iranian will to build a nuclear weapon, and are still supporting new sanctions against Iran despite the new NIE report, which contains numerous ambiguities about Iran's intentions and progress toward creating a bomb. Indeed, buried within the report is a statement that Iran could potentially enrich enough bomb-grade uranium within 12 to 18 months to create nuclear weapons. Iran's extremist regime is still supporting terror and bragging about its nuclear pursuits and capabilities. Let's act before it's too late. As everyone knows, all it takes for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.
Alan J. Winters, M.D.
Bellaire, Texas
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As America, in the midst of an illegal invasion of Iraq, points the finger at Iran, the question should be: "How is the world going to stop the greatest threat to world peace—the United States—in our time?" As for Iran, it is perhaps only looking for a way to defend itself.
Quentin Poulsen
Istanbul, Turkey
Fareed Zakaria takes issue with those on the political right who believe Iran is a first-class threat to America's security ("Stalin, Mao and … Ahmadinejad?" Oct. 29, 2007). He writes: "Rudy Giuliani said that while the Soviet Union and China could be deterred during the cold war, Iran can't be. The Soviet and Chinese regimes had a 'residual rationality,' he explained." Zakaria misses Giuliani's point. During World War II, for instance, as vile as the Nazis were, they would never have crashed their planes, kamikaze style, into American aircraft carriers in the name of the führer. Some Japanese, however, did precisely that in the name of their emperor. Radical Islamic leaders think the same way. So, if we allow any of them—including the figurehead Ahmadinejad—to acquire nuclear weapons, they may not hesitate doing what they threaten to do.
Elliot Goldenberg
Tamarac, Florida
Thank you for Fareed Zakaria's column "Stalin, Mao and … Ahmadinejad?" It is refreshing to see that there are some in the mainstream media who write about Iran without advocating its annihilation.
Arash Izadpanah
Via Internet
Fareed Zakaria tells the real Iran story in your Oct. 29 issue. His knowledgeable opinions should be required reading for President Bush and for Vice President Cheney, who seem to believe we can demand cooperation without dialogue. We do not have an embassy in Iran. We have sanctions and name-calling, but we have no discussion. Since it does not appear that Iran is a present danger, this could be the moment to sit down and talk reasonably without saber rattling. It is frightening to envision a military action in Iran when we have no more knowledge about Iranian culture than we did about Iraqi culture. Any military incursions would likely engender more hatred of the United States and, subsequently, more terrorist attacks. Negotiation would surely serve us better.
Carolyn M. Hoppe
Rydal, Pennsylvania
Bomb Iran? As long as America brandishes its fist and slams it down hard, it will prompt fear and loathing, not respect and admiration ("Would You Buy a Used Hawk From This Man?" Oct. 22). Shadows are removed by light, not by hammers. Patriotism requires brains, not brawn.
Michael G. Driver
Ichihara City, Japan
Accounting for French Auto Fires
In your Dec. 17 article about car fires in France ("Adding Fuel to the Fire"), you failed to mention that there are 32 million motor vehicles in that country. Every month, 90,000 old vehicles are sent to the junkyards to be destroyed. So 44,000 vehicles set ablaze each year is not so much. The police consider that 30 percent of these vehicles that are destroyed are burned by swindlers who want insurance companies to fund their new cars. For a very old "banger," insurance pays €1,000 —not a huge sum, so the company does not send a detective. Some people burn your car in France because they hate you. It is a petty personal vendetta—nothing to do with psychology or the economic crisis or politics ... The French are not bullies or racists—they are swindlers and con men. An American cop once told me, "A law-abiding Frenchman? Ha ha, he does not exist!" That guy got it.
Bernard Allemany
Marseille, France
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