Re "It's 2008, not 1938," Opinion, May 17
J. Peter Scoblic gives us half the story. Although he is right to accuse the conservatives of "head in the sand" stubbornness, his advocacy of negotiation leaves out several variables that aid talks with foes like North Korea and Iran. Neville Chamberlains' appeasement of Hitler was made from a position of weakness. Any negotiations today would be made from a position of American strength.
Negotiations are not always a one-way street. By negotiating with the United States, North Korea would get continued good relations with its neighbors. Furthermore, Chamberlain's appeasement gave Britain time to rearm. It also awakened the "arsenal of democracy."
Walt Brennan Jr.
Burbank
President Bush believes that holding a dialogue with your enemies (that's called diplomacy, by the way) is the same as giving in to their demands.
