EDITOR,

Wednesday’s editorial, “Political solution could mend Iraq,” suggests that negotiations with Iran and Syria could solve our differences.

Credible diplomats, such as Colin Powell and members of the Iraqi Study Group, also suggest that the U.S. negotiate political solutions with these enemies.

But my history books reveal zero examples of lasting political solutions between radical dictators and countries they wish to “wipe off the face of the Earth.” Talks with Hitler, Tojo, Milosevic, Noriega, Kim Jong Il and Saddam Hussein didn’t work!

Only two solutions to radical differences between countries have worked over time:

War (the usual answer).

Economic pressure, followed by internal rebellion, such as the Cold War.

The U.S. is trying economic pressure on Iran, and given time, it might work. It would help if we had some cooperation from our “friends” in Russia and China.

Tom Whitten, Tracy