Letter to Seattle Times

Dear Editor,

The Op-Ed “Baird’s View Is Really What He Sees” (Feb. 25, 2009) describes Congressman Baird’s thoughts of his visit to see the after-effects of war in Gaza. Author Danny Westneat fails to report that what Congressman Baird saw was orchestrated and controlled by the Hamas leadership which let him into Gaza. So to Baird, seeing is believing – what he is fed.

Baird is perplexed about Israel’s choice for targets: “How can you justify crushing an ambulance?”, Baird is quoted as saying. He apparently isn’t aware that ambulances are a favorite mode of transportation for Hamas Militants. Baird is also probably not aware that the Hamas command bunker is located under Gaza’s largest hospital – but that, most likely, wasn’t part of his tour. Is Congressman Baird similarly perplexed by Hamas’ tactics that include shooting from the vicinity of schools, hiding ammunition in Mosques, or shooting from the top of populated apartment buildings? Or is he only perplexed when Israel shoots back?

Congressman Baird would be better off focusing on his position as Chairman of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee, rather than jumping into a very complicated conflict in a complicated part of the world.

Michael Berenhaus