TO THE EDITOR: Add up the billions of dollars we are offering allies in return for their support, plus the multibillions that the war itself would cost, plus the billions more required to rebuild post-war Iraq economically and shape it politically: $50 billion? $100 billion? $200 billion or more?

What if we offer equal amounts of this money to the Palestinians who fled Israel in 1947, in return for renouncing their hope of reentry, and to the Jewish settlers in the occupied territories in return for their egress.

Next, we flex our muscle as the world's only remaining superpower and impose a solution to the status of Jerusalem that would be equally unpalatable to both parties. Then we "strongly suggest" that Israel allow a Palestinian state to form in the West Bank. The Palestinians should then have the will to crack down hard on their extremists, thus increasing security in Israel. And the terrorism alert level in this country will drop from yellow to blue as Arab/Muslim anger directed toward us cools from red to pink.

We could buy all of this for less than the price of a war.

Mike Mikula, New Richmond

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County wise to keep children's aid

On Feb. 26, our three Hamilton County Commissioners unanimously approved continuation of funding for Every Child Succeeds and Friends of the Children.

The commissioners acted responsibly by keeping these programs relatively intact even with their severe and growing budget problems. They were able to provide only half of the funding that had been allocated for the previous year, yet they did not close the door on future support. Rather, they deferred decision-making to midyear, when there is better information about the full extent of the Ohio budget problems.

The action reflects clear thinking in Hamilton County, which supports investment in important early-childhood initiatives. These include the Family & Children First Council, the Ohio Health Department's Help Me Grow program and the new United Way-sponsored Success by Six coordinating activity.

We need to commend our commissioners for being strong advocates for our children. They know that our future is strong when we take advantage of the power of prevention now.

Judith B. Van Ginkel, president,Every Child Succeeds

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DeHart Hubbard inspired many youths

I was very pleased to learn that a bronze relief of DeHart Hubbard had been installed in his honor for his Olympian feat.

I remember him as my recreation leader at the Gest Street Recreation Center in the West End.

I can still visualize him as a dignified great man who has highly respected by all who came in contact with him. He had a great impact on me, and on the lives of hundreds of boys and girls in the West End of Cincinnati.

William L. Mallory Sr., former Ohio House majority leader

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Funny, concealed guns haven't hurt next door

The letter writer Lori O'Neill, president of Million Mom March Greater Cleveland Chapter ("Concealed weapons bill invites hostile society," March 3) mentions that "every industry will be adversely affected if a concealed weapons bill passes in Ohio."

If that's true, I wonder what the other 43 states, including all three of our neighbors, have done about it. I haven't read about them having any problems.

David Jones, Monfort Heights

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Farrakhan decision betrayed XU's role

The guest column by Mike Graham, president of Xavier University, "Learning to hear the sounds of diversity" (Feb. 28) is an unusual apology, because it comes from one of the most respected leaders of a great university.

What is strange is that Graham, for all of his desire to have a future process of consultation that includes those he originally left out, misses the point that Minister Louis Farrakhan and the Xavier community were denied the right to present his ideas, thereby casting a judgment on ideas that were not shared.

Graham insults his and other communities by showing his fear of ideas. He suggests something sad about the unreadiness of Xavier, and Cincinnati, to hear and effectively respond to ideas that may be potentially disagreeable. A great university is a leader in tolerating the presentation of ideas and especially controversial thoughts that can stimulate thinking about the other sides of issues. Such actions strengthen our city's ability to think and change in the area of racial justice.

I respectfully suggest that Graham rethink both his process of deciding on speech and his fears about ideas on his campus.

Steve Sunderland, Northside

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Coverage of Final Friday is welcome

I would like to applaud the Enquirer on its fantastic coverage of Final Friday. It's great to see this kind of "good news" about Main Street and the Pendleton Art District.

For those unfamiliar with Final Friday, venture into a world of eclectic art, music and the social atmosphere of locals from all walks of life. If Friday nights are not your thing, how about Second Look Saturdays? Saturdays offer similar benefits as Final Fridays while appreciating local resident artists.

Thank you, Enquirer reporters and photographers, for capturing a moment of good news in our city.

Missy Knight, Greenhills

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Jury award caps are price controls

Caps on jury awards are the equivalent of price controls on suffering. It is interesting that the pro-free market Republican Party is currently introducing such measures in the Republican-controlled Congress.

Although an argument can be made that malpractice and other tort awards have driven doctors and manufacturers out of their profession or businesses, maybe such should be the result. Not every doctor or manufacturer should remain in business. For example, huge jury awards destroyed the asbestos industry, as it should have been.

Finally, to say that caps are required means to place a great distrust on the jury system and the many award-reduction-tools currently available via the post-verdict judicial processes. If juries were so universally generous to plaintiffs, insurance companies defending car-crash cases would never request juries. Yet when plaintiffs in car-crash cases request a trial to the judge insurance companies regularly request a jury.

It can't be that juries are both pro-plaintiff and pro-insurance companies. The more likely explanation is that a jury of eight persons is very capable of understanding the facts of a case and making appropriate choices. Caps on jury awards benefit no one except the irresponsible doctors and manufacturers in our society.

Hector Polanco, Mount Lookout