Taj Khan in his commentary ("Does 'evil' label help U.S. interests in the long run?" Lodinews.com, Feb 23) is critical of President Bush's change in foreign policy without once mentioning the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, the most epic tragedy we suffered as a nation.

He goes on about a consistent foreign policy from one administration to the next in order to instill trust in the rest of the world. He rants about one president's commitments being changed overnight by a new president and he worries about the U.S. acting as the world's policeman.

Mr. Khan seems not to understand what really happened on Sept. 11. Good Lord, the whole world changed Sept. 11, along with the foreign policy of our country.

As to Mr. Khan's little Iran democracy based on theocratic principles, Israel Defense Minister Binyamin ben Eliezer said Iran will have nuclear weapons by the year 2005.

George Tenet, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, apparently agrees, although his report to Congress said, "Tehran may be able to indigenously produce enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon by late this decade."

Our president is playing hardball with Iran, Iraq and North Korea - and it's about time.

James W. Riley Lodi

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