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Letter: Powell shows he’s hypocritical

Friday, May 4, 2001 | 4:10 a.m.

Mike O'Callaghan's April 29 column, "All-out war or peace," hits the nail on the head. His call for the Palestinian Authority to act like a civilized government, and tackle its problems without blaming Israel, is well taken.

The reference to Secretary of State Colin Powell calling Israel's reaction to the PA violence "excessive and disproportionate" makes one recall the Powell Doctrine as enunciated prior to the Gulf War. Powell indicated that if you defend yourself against your attacker, you prepare all your potential weapons and forces and use them with overwhelming strength. Otherwise, don't go to war. This was a result of his own experience in Vietnam.

If this doctrine applies to the United States, why not to Israel?

HERSCHEL AUERBACH

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