With all due respect to former President Jimmy Carter, I believe he should return to Plains, Ga., reopen his deceased brother Billy's gas station and crank up the stills at the Billy beer brewery. His recent trip to meet with the terrorist group, Hamas, says it all.

RUSS PAUMEN, MAPLE LAKE

I fail to understand the criticism of Jimmy Carter's efforts to bring peace in the Middle East. Jimmy Carter is the only president we've had whose peace efforts in this troubled region have had lasting effect: peace between Egypt and Israel. Now in his 80s, our most-useful ex-president, instead of giving speeches for personal profit, is taking his time and energy to meet with the key obstacles to moving beyond violence in the region, Hamas and Syria. Carter comes away with promising hints of compromise on their part, and receives criticism for even seeking to find a peaceful solution to the region's generations-long conflicts?

In this "eye for an eye" region of the world, where historical grievances are avenged centuries later, it is time to recognize that there are despicable acts attributable to all parties. The failed Bush policy of talking only to whom you wish while vilifying others is a recipe for continued conflict and risk to our world. We cannot afford to criticize those bold enough to "take a risk for peace." Carter '08!

DON ARNOSTI, ST. PAUL