Friendly fire.

• Author: Marvit, Moshe Zvi
• Position: Letters - Letter to the Editor

In "Wagging the Dog" (Fall 2004), Gvosdev and Tanner are correct to bring up the problems with America rubber stamping controversial decisions made by its most vulnerable allies. But Gvosdev and Tanner would do well to take a look at the governments in Tbilisi, Taipei and Jerusalem. Each of the three countries mentioned has a parliamentary system that awards small, single-issue parties disproportionate power in the national governments. Nowhere is this more obvious than Israel, where several small but powerful parties focus primarily on the issue of settlers. If America were to push harder for Sharon to halt settlements, America would serve both U.S. and Israeli interests. Sharon has realized that many of the settlements will eventually have to be dismantled, and if America pressed a little harder, it could act like the bear in the room. This sort of tough love would serve all parties involved.

MOSHE ZVI MARVIT

Pittsburgh, PA

Gvosdev and Tanner do not grasp the Taiwan situation correctly. Chen Shuibian does not pursue Taiwan's formal independence. His party takes the position that Taiwan is already a sovereign state, thus no formal declaration of independence is necessary. In his inauguration speeches in 2000 and 2004, he has made concessions to China (the Five Nos). He has offered olive branches to China on many occasions, only to be rebuffed time and again.

A great majority of the Taiwanese prefer keeping their hard-won freedom, and there have been mass demonstrations demanding a referendum and constitutional overhaul. As a leader in a democracy, Chen cannot ignore the...