Chilly reception for Arctic oil drilling

Re “Arctic Drilling Has Been His Burning Issue,” Dec. 20

Alaska Republican Sen. Ted Stevens’ desire to drill for oil in the Arctic is unpopular with his fellow senators and most of the American people.

Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will not reduce gas prices at the pump or our dependence on foreign oil. It will fill the pockets of Stevens’ cronies.

JOANNE R. JOHNSON

Laguna Woods

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When are the Republicans going to get the picture? We don’t want drilling in ANWR; we want a responsible oil policy, hopefully one that doesn’t involve invading another oil-producing country. Trying to piggyback onto an important and needed defense funding bill is irresponsible.

LINDA FOLSOM

Los Angeles

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Drilling in the Arctic will be ruinous, a point of no return for our environment.

SHARON LIPTON

Los Angeles

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One can only admire Stevens for his tenacity in opening the Alaska wilderness to drilling. But to misuse Senate rules and put funding for defense and our soldiers in Iraq at risk to advance his cause is reckless and harmful to the Senate. It is an example of pork barrel politics at its worst.

ROBERT MASON

Los Angeles

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What kind of animals would foul the pristine Arctic wilderness for six months’ supply of oil? Greedy animals, I’d say. Some of them are in the Congress of the United States, some are just investors.

Would that they were becoming extinct rather than the polar bear.

JOHN BINDER

Los Angeles