Has David B. Goldenson spoken to Susan Diallo or any other peace protesters [Letters, Jan. 30-Feb. 5]? If so, he would not say that we oppose removing Saddam Hussein, because most of us agree that this dictator is a murderer. The point we are making is that he is not an imminent threat to our country, and in fact, if we go ahead and bomb Iraq, the United States could start World War III.

Many experts have concluded that if we bomb Iraq, Saddam is more likely to bomb Israel, and unleash weapons. Even Gen. Norman Schwartzkopf can''t find enough evidence for us to go to war!

The inspections are working.

Besides, Bush was not elected, he has given us a $300 billion dollar deficit, wants to destroy our environment (burn down our trees, drill for oil in Alaska, when that''s a drop in the bucket and not worth spoiling this pristine land), take away a woman''s right to choose, dominate the world with his oil, nuclear, gas and other energy industry buddies, at the cost of human lives, including American ones, and he has taken away our civil liberties and freedoms.

Over 400 families are suing Bush for conspiring re: 9-11. What more evidence do we Americans need to give Bush and company the heave-ho??? Their agenda is dangerous, destructive, and anti-life. All of them should be removed from office immediately and tried for treason.

Read the books The War Against Freedom, Stupid White Men and Addicted to War, and watch the movie Bowling for Columbine, David Goldenson, and maybe then you would realize that we peace patriots are true Americans who love our country and want to preserve our precious freedoms and democracy. Additionally, we think that people in Muslim countries and around the world are human beings and deserve the same rights, freedoms and democracy that we Americans have taken so for granted.

Sue Hecht/Pacific Grove

Warmongers Are Chicken-Hawks

Whatever else we may say about the impending war with Iraq, let us remember that most of this Administration''s chief architects were hearty advocates of the Vietnam War but went to considerable lengths to avoid personally serving in the conflict. This is a pattern that also runs through the Congressional population like marbling in pork.

The point here is not to libel those who opposed the war and who did not serve. A huge number of Vietnam veterans, myself included, fully appreciate the conviction this represented. The point is that our nation''s latest overseas venture, retailing at $1 trillion and climbing, is being orchestrated by men who have not the slightest idea of what is in store for the soldiers presently massing on the Iraqi borders.

Moreover, the Administration''s attitude was recently summed up by Defense Secretary [Donald] Rumsfeld, who brushed off the prospect of a reinstated draft by letting slip he thought draftees were historically "useless" to the military. (Mothers and fathers, please note that 20,000 of the 58,000 soldiers killed in Vietnam not only died in a worthless venture; they were useless to begin with.)

In the wake of the Vietnam War, the American military professed to have learned two lessons. First, that in the future, the military should resist military commitments until objectives were fully spelled out to the American public. Second, that no campaign should commence without a clearly determined exit strategy. This is why many senior military leaders are privately expressing dismay over the current situation as neither of these prerequisites has been met even vaguely.

If this nation does go to war with Iraq (and whomever else joins the fray), be aware that it will be uncommonly ugly. It already is ugly in terms of what we have traded off to pave the way. "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety," Benjamin Franklin advises us. Short of examining America''s true motives, we are left, in the words of Hunter S. Thompson, to "buy the ticket, and take the ride."

J. Allston James/Monterey 1LT (US Army, Retired)

Loyal Opposition is Absent

Why are the opposition Democrats and the media so silent on the high costs and consequences of these things: aggressive push for tax cuts, unknown new costs of war, rising federal budget deficits, the deflated economy, bloated defense spending, emerging state and local government budget deficits? If we have gotten beyond the old "guns and butter" dilemma, will someone please explain it to me?

Domestic respect for this administration is plunging rapidly. Nobody likes a bully. There is too much of a cowboy mentality in a world that needs cooperation and compromise. We need moral leadership, not a morality-based vengeance. I think we are getting into deep trouble that will take a generation to correct. I am more and more ashamed of my country.

George Riley/Monterey

Mad Dog Draws Split Decision

Within a 48 hour period in Moss Landing, a large (bigger than German Shepherd) dog charged three women on three separate occasions and killed two neighborhood cats. Each of the women were alone at the time of the dog''s charge, and felt their life was threatened.

Early on Sunday morning, Feb. 2, the three women were able to corner the dog by following him through the neighborhood in their cars. They called 911, and when the Deputy Sheriff arrived, he informed us he could do nothing and Animal Control couldn''t or wouldn''t help. We felt the Deputy treated us with disdain, and as if we were simply hysterical women.

The motto of the Sheriff''s department is "To Protect and Serve." We felt the Deputy wasn''t concerned for either our safety or the safety of the neighborhood. After raising holy hell, Animal Control arrived and took the dog to be put to sleep.

Animal Control gets an A for their handling of the dog, and an F for emergency dispatch service. The Sheriff''s department gets an A for emergency dispatch service and an F- for the Deputy''s insensitive, uncaring demeanor.

Sally Slichter/Moss Landing