The Iran-Iraq war

Shireen T. Hunter's article [``Reverberations from Iraq's struggle with Iran''], April 4, was the best analysis made on the Iran-Iraq war. Through the effort of UN Secretary-General P'erez de Cu'ellar, the possibility of talks is on the horizon. As an Iranian, opposed to Mr. Khomeini's regime, I believe the Security Council should consider the historic facts in order to lay a foundation for a durable peace. As early as October 1979, the Iraq government demanded a revision of the 1975 Algiers Treaty. In April 1980 serious border clashes took place between the two countries. On Sept. 17, 1980, Iraq announced its unilateral abrogation of the Algiers agreement. On Sept. 22, 1980, Iraqi divisions crossed into Iran.

Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi President, viewed the Iranian revolution as an opportunity. He was made to believe that the country and the Army had been gravely weakened by revolution. He concluded that a military defeat over Iran could nullify the Algiers agreement and even establish a client government in Tehran. He spent millions of dollars helping some Iranian exiles in Paris to establish opposition movements to the Iranian regime. He provided radio stations in Iraq for propaganda purposes and a training base for clandestine operations.

He overlooked two basic elements -- the Iranians' nationalism and their deep-rooted animosity toward Arabs, especially Iraqis. So the whole operation proved to be futile. Now if the UN fails, and the war continues, it will lead to the collapse of the Iranian political order and eventual disintegration, which will provide the Soviet Union an opportunity to influence Iran and part of the Persian Gulf states. C. Shah-Rais Irvine, Calif.

Annual reports of large corporations such as telephone companies are a waste of money, because there is so much repetition and so few facts actually given. It would be better to pass the savings on to the consumer and stockholder and forget the large annual reports. Vera Anderson Sacramento, Calif. Letters are welcome. Only a selection can be published and none individually acknowledged. All are subject to condensation. Please address letters to ``readers write.''