Letters From the Issue of Thursday, April 26, 2007

ARBORING TERROR?

Send the man packing: How can this guy still be in the United States after all of this? ("The Algiers Connection," Ray Stern, April 12.) It's unbelievable! If Sofiane Laimeche is not a terrorist, as he claims, he certainly seems to have connections to them.

The tone of the story was that Laimeche is unjustly hounded by U.S. authorities. My belief is that in this day and time, the government wouldn't be doing its job if it didn't hound the likes of Laimeche. The guy was best friends with a man suspected of training 9/11 pilots! How much of a connection does the government need?! If they have to get him on something else to get him out of the country, so be it.

I agree that because this guy has a family, he deserves some consideration, but he broke the laws and regulations of this country to stay here, so he should be deported. His wife and kids can join him in Algeria if they so desire. This may be harsh, but we live in a harsh world.
Mike Garner, PhoenixWay of the rat : I have read your whitewash article on Sofiane Laimeche. He is an admitted "street rat," thief, liar, and forger. He has illegally entered this country, stole a job, and defiled an American woman. How would he like it if an American Christian married one of his female relatives? Worse yet, he is indoctrinating his innocent children in his vile form of Islamist intolerance. He is a traitor to America with his opposition to our Mideast policy. Presumably, he hates Israel because of its ability to construct both a working democracy and a working sewage system.

A modest proposal: Deport him back to his Third World pesthole.
Jerome J. Hearty, CoolidgeGuilty by association:Come on! You can't tell me that all those Arabs who had connections to the same flight schools in Phoenix didn't know each other, or weren't at least acquainted. It just doesn't make sense that Sofiane Laimeche and Lotfi Raissi didn't have any idea of the future 9/11 pilots' existence. Whether they knew what these guys were up to is another question. That hasn't been proved. But with Laimeche's obvious knowledge of these guys, plus the laws he's violated, I wonder how he's been allowed to remain here for as long as he has.
Name withheldLies, lies, lies, yeah: Ray Stern sure knows how to play the victim card. Sofiane Laimeche is touted by New Times as a good man, a religious man, a man of principle. A man that would give you his the last $10 if he had it.

He lied to get out of his country. Cheated and forged documents to get to Europe. Stole food and clothing from honest people for four years for a living. Used forged documents to work in this country. Lied about a Social Security card, and cheated on his taxes. Lied to his wife about who he really was in the beginning. Faked a name. Lied to get back in this country (New Times said fibbed — how courteous). This man has no credibility at all.

So what if he lived with terrorists? Associated with terrorists? His name and address was found in an apartment vacated by terrorist? This is all just circumstantial.

He is really the victim here.

Just a man at the wrong place over and over again.
Name withheldDOWN IN BIRD LAND

The big freeze: Satan must be wearing a parka right now and skating on some pond in hell, because I actually agree with The Bird about something! ("Jarrett and Goliath," Stephen Lemons, April 19.) Don Imus should've told Al Sharpton to kiss his white ass! I can't believe there's all this brouhaha over just one stupid little comment, while Dave Chappelle and other black entertainers always get a free pass! Why doesn't Al baby call for their jobs? Oh, yeah, because they are black and Imus is white. Racism is a two-way street, folks! Wake up and realize that Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are opportunistic black media whores, ready to attack any white people when the opportunity arises!
Jon Krieger, PhoenixART'S SAKE

Gone but not forgotten: Thank you very much for your kind review of the Arizona State University Art Museum show featuring my art collection ("Instant Immortality," Steve Jansen, April 19). Strangely enough, it came out one day after the 14th anniversary of my companion Michael Johns' death. For me, this show is an homage to many friends who are gone but will live forever through their art, and also a thank-you to those still alive, because of all the joy their art brings me.
Stephane Janssen, ScottsdaleNEW IDEA FOR NUNZILLA

Meet the Mormuns:Although I think NunZilla is somewhat amusing ("Bad Habits," Niki D'Andrea, April 5), the Catholic parody thing is a bit played out. Now, a band based on the LDS cult, that would be hilarious.

They could do things like wear short-sleeve dress shirts, baptize the dead, and sing about the truth, truth, truth, truth, truth. The show could even include a wet, magic underwear contest during intermission. Let's hear it for the MORMUNS!
David Jones, ScottsdaleMISGUIDED JUSTICE