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America's Medicated Warriors I fear the fate of these brave soldiers 20 years from now [June 16]. In 2002 my brother Bill, a combat infantryman decorated with three Bronze Stars, took his life on the 34th anniversary of his return home from Vietnam. He was proud of his service but said that in order to survive, he saw and did awful things he could never talk about. I don't know what the answer is, but posttraumatic stress disorder and depression have to be treated with more than a Band-Aid like Prozac. The Department of Veterans Affairs needs every dollar it gets to care for these brave warriors, and the public needs to know this will have to continue for years to come. RoseAnn Hassiepen-Hatfield WHEATON, ILL.

I believe that rather than merely offering drugs to our troops, we can give them the counseling they need via teleconferencing and even remote video conversations. The phone and Internet are terrific inventions. Let's put them to better use to support those who protect us all, at great personal cost. Carolyn Reyno, SPRINGFIELD, VA.

The military needs to arrive at a consensus concerning proper mental-health care for troops. When I received a diagnosis of a mental illness in 2003 prior to an impending deployment, my military psychiatrist advocated for me. Despite my suggesting an alternative assignment to honor the terms of my contract, he recommended a medical discharge, giving me the opportunity to recover and develop the coping skills necessary to live a successful life. Not all military officers are so empathic. Had I been forced to deploy at that time, I know the stresses of being in a war zone would have exacerbated my symptoms, compromising the mission or, worse yet, my own life. Anne Breitengross, VANCOUVER, WASH.

One idea: scrap "don't ask, don't tell." The estimated 65,000 gays and lesbians wearing the nation's uniform are not able to confide in doctors, psychologists and other counselors without fear of dismissal--a wasteful impediment to achieving full mental health. Meanwhile, the loss of 12,000 competent gays and lesbians has needlessly lengthened the tours of duty of the rest of the force. Nathaniel Frank, BROOKLYN, N.Y.

Feminists for Hillary? I am a die-hard feminist. If I read or hear one more story about why some women did not vote for Hillary Clinton, I will scream [June 16]. A reason largely ignored by the media is that we did not think she was the best candidate. It had nothing to do with ovaries or high heels. Lauren F. Cardillo, ALEXANDRIA, VA.

According to Amy Sullivan, pessimistic women have the "belief" that they still face persistent sexism and barriers in the workplace. This isn't a belief; it is a fact. Just check the stats. I write this as a 70-year-old who has fought for women's rights since the day I was thrown out of a public university class for wearing pants on a cold, rainy day. We had to fight for everything. Younger women will too. Linda Crouse, BEN LOMOND, CALIF.

Israel's Rising Star In his otherwise good report on Israeli leader Tzipi Livni, Tim McGirk states, "She broke with her parents' Zionist views; friends say she'd rather have a peaceful Israel to bequeath to her children" [June 16]. I didn't realize that for Israelis, having nationalistic feelings and a desire to live in peace are mutually exclusive. Robert Isler, FAIR LAWN, N.J.

Huddled Masses Like so many articles concerning illegal immigrants, your Postcard about the crackdown in Iowa focuses on the compelling reasons for understanding and accommodating those who naturally want to make a "better life," even if doing so means breaking the law [June 16]. But a nation must decide what policy best serves the long-term interests of all concerned. We are currently swamping the labor markets of the working poor, minorities, the unskilled and legal immigrants with millions of illegal workers who want to make a better life. Legal Americans deserve our compassion as well. Matthew Bracken, ORANGE PARK, FLA.

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