Mixed Signals on Terror

Re “Egypt Says U.S. Vows Not to Attack Iraq,” Nov. 29: Did I read The Times correctly? Egypt’s foreign minister admonishes America that it would pay a high price for using military force against governments that are not directly implicated in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Is this the Egypt to which America sends millions--if not billions--in foreign aid annually? You quote Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher as saying that Egypt has an “understanding” that the Bush administration will not use military force against Iraq “or any other Arab government accused of harboring terrorists.” That’s not the way I read our president. What’s going on here?

Edgar Simon

Beverly Hills