Syria's Assad

To the Editors:

President Reagan should set a goal for himself in Lebanon [Dec. 19]. If he wants to back the Gemayel government in the hope that it can bring peace to Lebanon, then our forces will be there forever. If he wants to provoke Syria into a war with the U.S., the President need only continue on his present course. After the latest clashes with the Syrians, the Bekaa Valley and the Gulf of Tonkin seem similar.

Joseph White Scottsdale, Ariz.

You write that the Syrians can expect a strike in return "for every Syrian strike against American forces, such as the previous day's firing on U.S. reconnaissance planes." And why should the Syrians not attack U.S. planes that are sent out to spy on them?

Tim Gracyk San Francisco

By his intransigence, Syria's President Hafez Assad has driven the U.S. back into the arms of Israel.

John Field Holder Morrow, Ga.

Now that it has concluded an agreement with Israel, the U.S. has disqualified itself as a peace keeper for Lebanon. In the interest of peace, the U.S. should remove its troops from Lebanon.

Stanford G. Lehne Birmingham, Mich.

The Soviet Union has achieved its goal--fighting between Arabs and Americans. The Kremlin has accomplished this without having to risk the life of a single Soviet soldier.

Lars Bratt Palo Alto, Calif.

The American dilemma in Lebanon is symptomatic of our inability to understand our role as world managers. Once again the American giant has fumbled, this time by putting the Marines into a complex and hostile environment without first deciding on a plan of action.

Riley J. Oxley Jr. Atlanta

Hungry and Homeless

The 2 million homeless Americans [Dec. 19] are the public's responsibility. The problem cannot be solved simply by providing these people with free food and shelter. We need a federal program that will offer the homeless work, thus giving them hope for the future and a new respect for themselves.

Joetta Keene Fort Worth

We are spending $500 million this year on the 2 million homeless. That comes to $250 each. This is help?

Joyce M. Wright Sarasota, Fla.

I would like to come to the defense of Edwin Meese and his remarks about people who line up for free meals. He did not say all of the people were freeloaders; he said some of them were, and he was right. Rachel N. Moffett Hathaway Pines, Calif.

Housing has been universally recognized as a human right and need, yet the overall condition of shelter and basic services continues to deteriorate in most countries. As a result, the General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed 1987 as the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless. By focusing attention on the worldwide problem, the U.N. hopes to encourage nations to help their disadvantaged citizens improve their shelter and neighborhoods.

Arcot Ramachandran

U.N. Center for Human Settlements

Nairobi

Labor's Troubles

Labor unions [Dec. 19] were created to halt the exploitation of workers by big businesses, but the unions themselves have become big businesses.

Debbie Nicolai Pacifica, Calif.

Are the company executives who are asking for wage cuts from their employees also decreasing their own salaries?

Ann Morton Agelasto Norfolk

Executions and Abortions

As a Catholic, an ardent pro-lifer and an admirer of Cardinal Bernardin, I take issue with his opposition to capital punishment [Dec. 19]. I support the judicious use of executions because the death penalty saves more lives than it takes.

Donald Moore Bellwood, Ill.

It is not inconsistent to be for capital punishment and against abortion. Capital punishment kills the guilty, while abortion kills the innocent.

Robert G. Frantz Cincinnati

We Catholics should demand consistency on controversial issues from our clergy. If the bishops gave serious and open-minded study to the question of abortion, perhaps they would see that a woman has as much right to a legal abortion as the state has to execute criminals. Marjorie Reiley Maguire Milwaukee

It is exciting to see the Catholic hierarchy becoming aware that there can be no cafeteria-style approach to the pro-life doctrine. Either life is sacred or it is not.

William O. Field Lexington, Ky.

Patrolling the Press

I am stunned and saddened to see how many people support press censorship [Dec. 12]. The press may be imperfect, but consider the alternative. Americans do not want the Reagan or any other Administration to provide and interpret the news for them.

Ana B. Danehy Tucson

Your self-flagellation reflects not so much the sins of the press as the ignorance and apathy of Americans. When the majority no longer wants a press that questions its Government, then that Government will seize the initiative and portray the press as an enemy of the people. Such action works to the detriment of all. Please stop apologizing.

Marc C. Schultz Pittsburgh

Your story on the press contained two factual errors that illustrate why the news media suffer from a lack of credibility. First, you misspelled my name. It is Vogrin, not Vogerin. Then, your synopsis of the investigative series I did on the Arkansas River in southwest Kansas suggested that farmers were stealing water from the river. This is ludicrous. My series exposed the damage done to the river, and the adjoining Ogallala Aquifer underneath, by farmers who use the water to irrigate their crops. With these two mistakes you drove home the point of your story.

Bill Vogrin

The Associated Press

Topeka, Kans.

You failed to mention Accuracy in Media Inc., an organization dedicated to keeping the press honest and to alerting readers to slanted reporting.

Walter K. Wiggins Woodinville, Wash.

Critics on Trial

Re your story about the food critics who were sued for libel [Dec. 19], artists do not need lawsuits to deal with critics. Time proves who is right. Besides, trials in which "critically wounded sopranos might end up singing arias as evidence" could be dangerous for the diva. She runs the risk of being judged flat.

Robert Xavier Rodriguez, Composer

Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dallas

Space Weapons

The theory that space weapons [Dec. 12] will protect us from Soviet missiles is an illusion. The Reagan Administration and the Soviets should realize that the only way to have national security is to negotiate world security.

Robert Anderson Reston, Va.

Ronald Reagan's belligerence drove the Soviets from the bargaining table. Now his Star Wars weapons will drive the U.S.S.R. to designing deadlier armaments.

Ken Unmack Cameron Park, Calif.

Your story on the Administration's plan to develop space weapons created the impression that I am an enthusiastic supporter of the expensive Star Wars proposal. I have frequently said that I favor protective defense only if it can be executed inexpensively. I see little value in the extremely costly and probably ineffective program you describe in the sentence preceding the statement of my support.

I am in favor of deterrence based on protective defense as opposed to deterrence by retaliation. Many protective defense systems show promise and would cost less than the measures required to overwhelm by retaliation. I favor early deployment of protective means because it will do more to deter war than any retaliatory measures.

Edward Teller Stanford, Calif.

Painting Miss Piggy

Thanks to Miss Piggy's decision to pose for The Mona Piga [Dec. 12], our name has become a household word. For years, my mother-in-law collected her paycheck under the name Biga. My husband's name was printed Pica on our wedding invitation, and our charge account was under the name Pizza. Vous can blow Miss Piggy a kiss for us Pigas.

Nancy and Louis Piga Minneapolis