"Talking to the enemy is a sign of maturity, not weakness."

Elephants in tow

The donkeys' leader takes huge liberties with political power

Editor, The Times:

Along with many other strangely silent Americans, we are outraged about the presumption of power by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ["Pelosi in Syria; Bush critical," Times, News, April 3].

Such arrogant behavior is totally out of line. It is treachery, it is beyond treason; it is presumptuous beyond her position. Since when does a member of the House of Representatives assume she has the same power as the president of the United States, or the secretary of state (who is the president's appointed representative in dealing with foreign nations)?

Pelosi has not merely damaged the integrity of the office of the president of our country, she has destroyed the credibility of the United States of America throughout the world. What a stupid, thoughtless and evil act!

And now she wants to trump the Supreme Court, too? Whatever happened to separation of powers? Does she think that is outdated, too? Or is she so eager to establish her vision of a socialist government and destroy our independence and freedom that she doesn't give a damn whom she steps on?

Who in the world does she think she is? And where are the majority of Americans who should be brave enough to speak out and impeach this woman back to San Francisco? She belongs with the rest of the crazies.

— Frank and Janice Ochoa, Duvall

The bull is expelled

I am proud of Speaker Nancy Pelosi for meeting with Syrian leaders. She's done what the petulant Bush administration failed to do for eight years: talk to our enemies.

When we communicate, we find common ground, despite our differences. Finding common ground transforms adversaries into partners and crises into opportunities. But this requires that we renounce the winner-take-all posture of the schoolyard bully.

Bush diplomacy aims to "isolate" nations like Iran and Syria. But who does this policy really isolate? This president, who refuses to communicate with his adversaries, is the most isolated president in American history.

Talking to the enemy is a sign of maturity, not weakness.

Thank you, Speaker Pelosi. It's refreshing to see U.S. foreign policy represented by a grown-up.

— Fred LaMotte, Steilacoom

Those who forget history

Speaker Nancy Pelosi's unauthorized trip to Syria and her willingness to undercut U.S. foreign policy and play kissy-face with one of the top five terrorists in the world brings to mind the efforts of Joseph P. Kennedy, Teddy's daddy, to appease Adolf Hitler.

As ambassador to the Court of St. James's (England), Joe Kennedy met on June 13, 1938, with Herbert von Dirksen, the German ambassador. The ambassador later reported in detail the conversation to Baron Ernst von Weizacker, the German state secretary.

According to that report, Kennedy confided to the German ambassador that Neville Chamberlain, the British prime minister, was anxious to have some sort of settlement with Germany. By saying this, he undercut Great Britain's negotiating position with Hitler. Also, Kennedy said President Roosevelt was not anti-German and wanted friendly relations with Hitler. However, no European leader spoke well of the Germans because most of them were "afraid of the Jews" and did not "dare to say anything good about Germany ... " Kennedy stated. Even as the two met at the German embassy in London, Hitler was planning to exterminate all the Jews. The following year, World War II began when Hitler invaded Poland.

Pelosi is the Neville Chamberlain and the Joe Kennedy of our time. Appeasing a terrorist is a disgrace to the office she holds. The Pelosi visit underscores that, when it comes to dealing with enemies, Democrats live in a dream world. Yet when another attack occurs, they will try to blame it on someone else.

— Bill McColl, Everett

The last trumpet

I get the impression that in visiting Syria and Saudi Arabia, Speaker Nancy Pelosi is acting like a president — like the one a lot of us wish we had.

Her statement that the road to Damascus is the road to peace is worthy of careful attention. She is one of the few in public life to hint at what many know, but dare not say: The United States will not always be the world's only superpower, and when it ceases to be one, Israel can no longer rely on this country to protect it.

Israel's only real security is not in military power, but in peace. And peace can only come when Israel does justice to the Palestinians ["Israel asks Pelosi to tell Syria to stop backing terrorism," News, April 2].

The numbers of the dead in the Israel-Palestinian conflict are reminiscent of those in the Vietnam War: Israel kills far more of its enemies than its enemies kill Israelis, yet there is no victory.

Those who truly love Israel, and who want it to survive, will urge its leaders to do justice, and do it quickly. It may already be too late.

— Norman Marsh, Darrington

Town crier

Everyone to the bunkers

If you folks in neighborhoods around town want to see what our last two "high-rise mayors" have done for us, come on out to north Seattle/Bitter Lake/Shoreline. The massive construction across the street from Bitter Lake, sited right out on the corner of two busy streets, is hugely inappropriate for this neighborhood.

What makes land-use and construction folks think anyone would want to live there, or could live there in safety? It is tremendous blight in what used to be a nice neighborhood. And what happened to plans to make Linden Avenue North a pedestrian-friendly boulevard?

Additionally, whoever designed that chunky, clunky concrete monstrosity that is calling itself the pedestrian/bike/walking-friendly connection to the two ends of the Interurban Trail in the Shoreline district should be redirected to makeup architectural classes.

What could have been delicate and beautiful is instead looming concrete that hides local businesses and reminds one of a bunker. Ever been to Fort Casey on Whidbey Island? Bunkers!

These inappropriate designs are coming to a neighborhood near you next. Watch for them!

— Nancy Bryant, Seattle

A good dressing down

Clothes make Iran

I won't defend the actions of the Iranians in capturing the British marines and sailors. But, I must say that, by outfitting the male captives in business suits, Iran made a very good impression on the rest of the world ["Tinkers, spies, but no tailors," editorial, April 6]. "Baggy and off-the-rack" the suits may be, but they are far better-looking than the jumpsuits and chains Guantánamo prisoners are forced to wear.

— Maureen Searle, Seattle