Flawed U.S.strategies in Syria

ISSUE | SYRIA

Flawed strategies

White House press secretary Josh Earnest recently said that Russia "imposing a military solution" in Syria would not work. He cited the Russian attempt in Afghanistan during the Jimmy Carter years and the American attempt in Iraq.

This is a childlike analysis. The American attempt in Iraq was working until President Obama basically walked away from Iraq without a status-of-forces agreement. Obama cited the relative tranquility in Iraq as a justification for the removal of American forces. It was a temporary political gain. If only a fraction of the American troops had remained, Iraq would have had a much better chance at democracy, and Iran would not have had an easy opportunity to dominate Iraq and virtually make it a satellite.

An even greater problem facing the Obama administration is the loss of American credibility. After drawing the "red line" against the Syrian use of poison gas against its own citizens, he settled for a very weak compromise. Syria agreed to give up its poison gas. However, the recent use of poison gas by the Syrian armed forces showed the world the reluctance of America to back up its word.

|Arthur Horn, East Windsor

ISSUE | PHILLIES

Left wanting more

I thought the best way to waste time these days was by watching a depressing Phillies game and reminiscing about when they were a great team - until I squandered minutes reading "A family feud with millions at stake" (Sunday).

As a lawyer and a former newspaper reporter, I am left with questions, such as: How exactly did Phillies co-owner John Middleton "outmaneuver" his sister, Anna Nupson, in the sale of the family cigar company? What actual legal claims are being raised by Nupson? Is Middleton a named party to this lawsuit?

This is basic stuff that's missing. The article focused less on reporting and more on flowery prose that fails to shed any light on what this lawsuit is about.

The biggest question of all is: Why should I care about two millionaires fighting over more millions?

If you want me to care, tell me more about the details of the lawsuit and less about a chain-smoking heiress' eccentricities.

|Brian L. McCarthy, West Chester

ISSUE | NO-DRIVE ZONES

Without cars, camaraderie and good cheer

One of my greatest memories of the events during Pope Francis' visit to Philadelphia was the streets free of cars ("Pedestrian power - The drive for carless streets," Sunday).

With people of many ethnicities and faiths, we walked miles as though on a pilgrimage, calling out to each other in "hellos" and "hi, Father," waving, sharing food, singing songs, carrying flags, thanking cops and National Guard troops - a sense of the human family hoping and celebrating that hope together. Amazing.

The absence of cars was half of it, I think. It was as though we had shed our tortoise shells and could actually see each other in our mutual vulnerability and need. We were like children.

And the image of the pope as he approached the altar in his popemobile to celebrate the final Mass was like a happy dream: Francis, exhausted but smiling as babies were passed to him to be hugged and blessed, prompting "Ahhhhhs" from the crowd watching on the video screens.

It made you want to weep for joy at how much we all want to love and be loved, how human we are together, how we can truly make this world a home for all if we really believe and act on this.

Let's do it again - I mean the car-free streets, maybe once a month. That'll be a start at least. Who knows what could follow?

|Rev. Paul F. Morrissey, St. Augustine Church, Philadelphia, fr.paul@blackwallofsilence.com

A barrier for the elderly

About a third of older Philadelphians use a walker, cane, or wheelchair. These older adults often need to either drive or be driven to get out, and their destinations include the business districts mentioned in Sunday's article ("Pedestrian power - The drive for carless streets").

Isolation and loneliness are significant health risks for older adults, and so this proposal, while benefiting some Philadelphians, may put others at greater risk.

The significant diversity among the city's population presents a real challenge to finding ways to benefit the health of all citizens. We need to do more thinking about that before embracing any individual health-related initiative.

|Allen Glicksman, Haverford, allenglicksman@gmail.com

ISSUE | POPE'S VISIT

Mayor's mistake

The job of the U.S. Secret Service was to protect the pope. The job of Mayor Nutter was to run the city. The mayor permitted the Secret Service to bamboozle him into letting them run the city during the pope's visit. His commentary ("Philly's the 'can do events' city," Monday) shows he still is upset about all the criticism coming his way. But he blew it.

|Charles Brennan, Philadelphia

Cannot put a price tag on 'hope, joy, love'

Adeline Tomasone wants to know the total cost to taxpayers like her for the recent papal "folderol" in Philadelphia ("How much did it all cost?" Friday). It was priceless. How can you measure financially the message of hope, joy, and love that Pope Francis brought to the throngs of people in Philadelphia on Sept. 26 and 27, especially the poor, homeless, and marginalized. It was no mere nonsense to them.

|Pat McNichol, Wayne, patmcnichol50@gmail.com