Readers write for Friday, March 19

The disrespectful treatment of America's most loyal ally, Israel, by the present administration is at best a shortsighted action, and one that will harm the mutual long-term interests of both nations.

While presidents are called upon to make difficult and at times unpopular decisions, President Obama's actions regarding Israel strike this voter not as courageous, but as cavalier and petulant, like the rant of a spoiled child who can't get his way. Meanwhile, the Israelis stare down a growing series of existential threats posed by the despotic regimes of Iran and Syria and their terrorist agents in Hezbollah and Hamas.

I caution against the president's pique with Israel, and against his awkward and unseemly dance with Mideast terror masters. We cannot afford to allow the Iranians to develop nuclear capabilities. The world is counting on us to act with conscience.

BRUCE POLSKY, BURNSVILLE

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Those of us who truly care about Israel know that President Obama is right to confront our ally over its approval of a new settlement construction plan in East Jerusalem, which undermines prospects for peace. After all, Israel's future is dependent on reaching a two-state solution.

Americans know that peace for Israel is more important than the settlement expansion, and that our interests are directly tied to Middle East peace.

ROBERT O. FISCH, MINNEAPOLIS

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Israel is our friend, and it is all we have in the Mideast as a partner in freedom.

GEORGE WALTERS, ST. JOSEPH

It is a little ironic that Liz Cheney, a small-government conservative, derides the justice system that has made America the envy of the world ("Liz Cheney needs a lesson on the rule of law," Opinion Exchange, March 12).

BOB DECK, ST. Paul

Veterans have expressed concern about the recent coverage of the "Support Our Troops" license plate fund ("Some plate funds were diverted," March 13). Our message is simple: Please continue to purchase these license plates.

As a leader of nine of Minnesota's congressionally chartered veteran service organizations, we are keenly interested in how the state, through the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, helps serve our veterans.

We are deeply troubled by the potential for long-term damage that will occur if the mission of the "Support Our Troops" plate is tarnished. If people stop purchasing this plate, the result will be decreased revenues to the account, which means less money for veteran service organizations.

We firmly believe the Department of Veterans Affairs did not misuse these funds. Hiring the part-time services of a person who was already connected to the groups the department was trying to reach is a more efficient use of money than hiring a permanent, full-time employee. The Minnesota Commanders Task Force values the hard work done by legislators to make Minnesota one of the most veteran-friendly states in the nation. This is an opportunity to take lemons and make lemonade by using the recent publicity to encourage use of the "Support Our Troops" license plates.

The jobs bill passed by Congress is optimistically expected to create 250,000 jobs ("Obama expected to sign $18 billion jobs bill today," March 18).

When will the taxpaying public understand that this equates to $72,000 per job, although each job will likely pay far less?

Washington's continued inefficiencies could very quickly result in debt beyond what our children and grandchildren can ever afford.

WILLIAM BLOCK, MINNEAPOLIS

Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., can't let a few facts get in the way of her efforts to push people further from reality ("Reform efforts are making us sick," Opinion Exchange, March 18).

Bachmann is completely correct about one thing. There are those in Washington who are "really making this country sick."

J. TODD EMBURY, RAMSEY

The Pentagon shooter bought his weapon at a gun show without a background check ("Seized guns land at crime scenes," March 15). Many gun advocates would say this was an unfortunate abuse and that we should be happy that his rights weren't violated. Of course, they won't mention the rights of the victims.