With regular letter writers — ‘see previous letter’

I appreciate that the Sentinel prints Letters (to the Editor) from writers with differing political perspectives, though there does seem to be a regular cast of contributors.

There’s a game I play with myself where I try to guess the letter writer before I get to the end. There’s one letter writer from Scotts Valley that results in me batting 1.000 — always. Before I get too smug, I have to remind myself that she basically writes the same letter, always drawing heavily on Fox News, et. al. talking points du jour. By contrast, there’s a gentleman from Boulder Creek whose views I rarely agree with but who at least sometimes makes compelling points.

Perhaps you could save us all time; come up with a snappy headline but then just put “see previous letter” in the text. Or instead, maybe print a letter from someone else with a similar perspective but who also has some original thoughts, y’know … just to switch it up.

I’m tired of winning all the time.

— Lisa J. French, Santa Cruz

Response to pro-Trump letter: Evaluate his actions

A Letter to the Editor Sunday (July 13) claimed the purpose of ICE raids was to rid our country of “cruel non-feeling criminal illegals” — yeah, hard-working farmworkers certainly fit that bill.

Maybe if Trump had built his promised big, beautiful wall, we wouldn’t be in this mess. But Trump has never been good with fulfilling promises (ending the war in one day, bringing down food prices on Day 1). Though I guess immigrants did stop eating people’s pets in Springfield.

The writer claimed Democrats ignored the Constitution the past five years. Any examples? As opposed to Trump trying to eliminate birthright citizenship (Amendment 14). Or threaten to revoke Rosie O’Donnell’s U.S. citizenship for her speaking out against him (Amendment 1: freedom of speech — Mahmoud Khalil is another example of that).

How about upholding the law? Or does instigating the Jan. 6 insurrection (reminder: people died!), coercing Georgia election officials (reminder: audio tapes!), or illegally taking top-secret documents from the White House (reminder: photographic evidence) count?

And you wanted Hillary locked up for using a private email server.

— Phil Hormel, Scotts Valley

W. Sahara situation more complex than Zunes writes

I did a little research about the Western Sahara and the Polisario Front and the situation seems far more complex than what Stephen Zunes (Guest Commentary, July 11) wants us to believe. It is true that the Front is fighting for independence for an area that Morocco claims. They have fought a war against Morocco for years. Their primary benefactor has been Algeria, but there is strong evidence that Iran has played a role in helping them as well. We know how trustworthy the Iranians are and how they never meddle in the affairs of other countries.

Rep. Jimmy Panetta is surely aware of the competing interests and he chose to support Morocco, which has been a trusted ally of the United States as opposed to the Polisario Front, which has Marxist elements and has not demonstrated it would support American interests.

When it comes to these complex issues I tend to side with a member of Congress who has represented his district ably and with thoughtfulness as opposed to a radical professor with his far-left agenda.

— Howard Hoffman, Kirkwood

Panetta understands that Morocco a strong US ally

This is not the first time the Sentinel has published an opinion piece by professor Stephen Zunes disparaging Rep. Jimmy Panetta (July 11). In the real world, leaders need to make difficult choices that are not ideal but practical and necessary. The Polisario Front is a rebel group trying to assert sovereignty over an area known as the Spanish Sahara. Our ally Morocco seeks to control that territory and does control most of it now. Algeria is the main backer of the Polisario Front and Iran has supplied weapons in their war with Morocco. There are also widespread reports that the Front works with Hezbollah, which Zunes ignores.

While Morocco may not be the perfect country since it is a monarchy, it has been a strong ally. Panetta understands that we should support our allies even if they are imperfect. Naming the rebel group as a terrorist organization is the least we can do to help Morocco defeat this insurgency.

— Susanne Kalter DeWitt, Berkeley