If we were not bogged down in Iraq in our “oil” war, I would be fully in favor of sending troops in and forcing our way into Burma militarily with aid.

Now we don’t have the troops or the finances to offer aid to a country that has been devastated. How sad.

Mel Hirsekorn

Redwood City

Invasion out of the question

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A recent Time magazine article advocating the need for the United States to invade Burma to deliver humanitarian aid is a pitiful idea, although it is rooted in humanitarian kindness and support for global health.

While a forceful invasion by the United States is out of the question, the possibility that the United States could air-drop food, water and medicine to the suffering Burmese has been brought up in some circles.

It seems that the lesson learned in Bosnia has been cited — that you do not need permission of the host country’s government to intervene with humanitarian supplies during a crisis.

While the situation in Bosnia was much more brutal and violent, with multiple armed groups locked in a terrible genocide, civil war and holocaust, Burma’s stubborn government has thus far been very difficult to convince to let in outside help on a large basis.

It will surprise me if the United States makes such bold policies to help people in a foreign country where our national security is not really at immediate stake aside from future health epidemics and the continuation of the Burmese regime.

Kevin Beck

Las Vegas

Knee-jerk politics

Our mayor feels that he is the law unto himself regarding marriage, immigration and drug use. Board President Aaron Peskin felt that he need not comply with the voter-approved fiscal impact mandate; a judge was required to tell him otherwise. Assemblyman Mark Leno felt free to incite against Christians who had peacefully assembled here to worship. San Francisco citizens were subject to a half-cent sales tax that was illegally imposed; there is a like question regarding the legality of a phone tax.

Letter writer Reid Condit (Letters, May 7) announces that he will no longer support any candidate who supports the cigarette police — even if that candidate is “in a position to impeach Cheney/Bush.” How comforting and reassuring it must be to know that all evil originates with Cheney/Bush. And oh, the free-time such knee-jerk politics must afford.

Paul Burton

San Francisco

Rush Limbaugh’s plan

Is Rush Limbaugh overmedicated? How can that overinflated bloviator think that his absurd plan to destroy Democratic unity by urging Republicans to vote for Hillary will ever work?

He’s not ready for Reality TV. According to Howard Dean, DNC chair, Hillary and Obama are tied for the Democratic ticket. Indiana and North Carolina proved his point last week. Rush has no effect.

The ranks of the Democratic Party have swelled not because of Rush Republicans, but because of two outstanding contenders who are forging a new Democratic unity. Democrats have never been stronger. Hillary keeps winning because a very broad coalition of true blue Democrats supports her, while Obama gets high support from independents.

Democratic party unity requires the [superdelegates] not to rush to judgment on the primary process. There are still many states that haven’t voted, and many Democrats in Florida and Michigan who would like to participate in the primary.

Hillary is now leading Obama against McCain in the general election. We continue to learn new details about each candidate, and much remains unknown. Obama is still an enigma wrapped in a ballot box. The last thing Democrats need now is another October surprise.

Paul Page

San Francisco

Marijuana dispensaries

I’d like to know who the Supervisors were serving when they voted 10-1 to extend permit deadlines, once again, for medical marijuana dispensaries?

Furthermore, why are there two such dispensaries within three blocks of each other on Ocean Avenue, and why are they allowed to be near schools and where young people gather?

If indeed, they are medical dispensaries, why are they not located in medical centers or professional malls, instead of residential neighborhoods? Time and time again, these “pot clubs” bring an undesirable element into our residential neighborhood, with kids gathering around corners and smoking pot in doorways before and after classes.

Who’s going to take responsibility for this deliquency when thefts and drive-by shootings become more regular occurrences? How many more kids do we have to give up to addiction while the supervisors and city planners make their ivory-tower sweet deals?

George Lewandowski

San Francisco

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