Democracy can’t be forced on Mideast countries

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following letters were written in response to Tom Williams’ letter, “Columnist fails to see both sides of war,” Sept. 15.

After reading Tom Williams’ letter differing with Joe Bell’s column, which was unnecessarily insulting by the way, I have to differ with his views on the Iraq situation.

I was one who listened to the president announce the attack on Pearl Harbor and experienced the reaction and the five years that followed, and I can tell you there is no comparison whatsoever between World War II and the mess we are in today.

I think it is naive to believe that all the Mideast countries will become democracies because we want them to or try to force it on them.

These tribes have been fighting for millenniums and will probably do so forever no matter what we do.

ANN MERRITT

Newport Beach

Letter was in bad taste and blatantly abusive

Williams’ poorly written letter lambasting Joe Bell was not just in bad taste but blatantly nasty and abusive.

Why does The Pilot dignify this kind of pointless vitriolic name-calling by printing it? Your editors aren’t performing any kind of public service by devoting precious space to this kind of ill-conceived trash.

JANE LOWRY

Newport Beach

Publishing letter demeans the Pilot

I don’t know who Tom Williams is but I was shocked that you printed his letter. Whether or not Williams’ position was valid is beside the point; his argument was totally negated by his unnecessary invective about Bell. Publication of these kinds of comments demeans the quality of the Pilot.

SOREL REISMAN

Newport Beach

Name calling proves Williams’ ignorance

It is quite proper for people to have differing views but you, sir, have gone too far!

I do not intend to defend Joe Bell. I am defending decency.

It is not necessary to call Mr Bell “Mr. Windbag,” “Bumbling Bell,” or “blathering buffoon” because you disagree with his opinion or his side of a story.

It is proper to tell your side but the name calling only proves your own ignorance.

By the way, your ideas on Mr. Bush’s efforts and their effects on the future of the Middle East are so outrageously silly I could almost laugh if it were not so terribly sad that you are so ignorant.

BARBARA NORTH

Newport Beach

Civil journalism should be Pilot’s responsibility

Something’s badly amiss at the Daily Pilot when you headline a spiteful, personal attack on columnist Joseph Bell by Tom Williams.

Aside from the liberties he takes with history, Williams believes that one or more U.S.-initiated pre-emptive wars will guarantee peace and democracy in the Middle East.

If Bell — and prevailing public opinion — believes otherwise, that is no reason to bash Bell with pointless invective and childish insults.

Doesn’t the Pilot have responsibility here for civil journalism?

ROBERT AND BARBARA SHELTON

Newport Beach

Williams’ view is wishful thinking

Tom Williams’ rosy view of how it is — and will be — in the Middle East is a great example of wishful thinking.

I suggest we take up a collection and see if we can send him there to give us a first-hand report. Only stipulation is that he can’t stay inside the compound as Bush did.

BETTS HARLEY

Costa Mesa