To the Editor:
Re “Joy Among Iranians May Not Last,” by Nicholas Kristof (column, March 8):
Mr. Kristof raises a tough question that needs answering: “If some Iranians are celebrating in the streets — so desperate for change that they welcome the bombing of their own cities — should we object?”
It is no surprise that many Iranians were cheering, at least in the early days of the war. They have lived under a government that has crushed dissent for decades. But American policy cannot be judged by the volume of celebration or outrage in Tehran. It must be judged by one standard: whether the United States and its allies are safer.
For years, Iran expanded its missile and drone programs while edging closer to the ability to build a nuclear weapon. The longer we waited, the fewer options remained. Delay would have allowed Iran to harden its arsenal, shield its facilities and present the world with a fait accompli — a regime on the cusp of nuclear capability and nearly impossible to deter.
This was likely the last moment when prevention was still feasible. Iran’s ability to project power has been disrupted before it became untouchable. That is the achievement. Not moral theater, not international approval — security. And security, not popularity, is the responsibility of American leadership.
Niloofar Asgharian Arlington, Texas
To the Editor:
As usual, Nicholas Kristof brilliantly analyzes a current crisis: the potential gains and risks of President Trump’s war on Iran.
It’s true that if the Iranian government were to change in a positive direction, as so many Iranians hope it will, the Middle East might be much better off — a best-case scenario that seems unlikely so far. But Mr. Kristof doesn’t mention the unconstitutional method President Trump is using to start a war without congressional authority. The ends don’t justify the means.
Let’s spend less time analyzing what ends we hope will be achieved in Iran, and more time analyzing how to avoid President Trump’s corrupt means.
James Berkman Plymouth, Vt.
To the Editor:
War has weighed heavily on me before; the Iraq war disturbed me so deeply that I eventually moved from the United States to Canada.
Politically, I consider myself center-left, yet I do not share the view held by many on the left that this war should not be fought. The presence of risk does not automatically make a conflict unjustified. History shows that some difficult fights are necessary. America’s Civil War carried enormous risk and uncertainty, yet it was still worth fighting.
Every major decision involves weighing risk against possible gain. I recently heard an Iranian woman describe the brutality of the current regime, including that vast numbers of girls are forced into child marriages each year. Imagine someone you love facing that fate.
Peace is the goal, but sometimes confronting oppression is the only path toward it.
Lynda Diamond Toronto
To the Editor:
Given the president’s need to put his name on everything, I think the war should henceforth be called the Donald J. Trump War.
Meg O’Brien Los Angeles
A.I. Pitfalls in School
To the Editor:
I read “A.I. Literacy Lesson: Don’t Let It Think for You” (front page, Feb. 25) with chagrin. Schools nationwide are grappling with how to teach artificial intelligence. This is unsettling because class time is limited, teachers are overburdened and the Brookings Institution found that for now, “the risks of utilizing A.I. in education overshadow its benefits.”
Ideally, strong students will be able to harness A.I. while remaining skeptical about its easy, instant answers. But for many, A.I. makes it mighty tempting to cut corners and get good grades without thinking critically or retaining information.
As an advice columnist, I worry that students who take A.I. shortcuts are shortchanging themselves. To become educated, you need to read books, not just bullet points. And A.I. flattens creativity.
I wouldn’t let artificial intelligence come up with captions for my social media posts or photo albums, let alone my letters or books. Artificial intelligence? I don’t even like artificial sweeteners.
Let’s do all we can to keep students engaged and learning. Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders and voters.
Carol Weston Big Sky, Mont. The writer is an advice columnist for Girls’ Life.
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