Lacking the will to confront Assad

Amir Taheri

Almost exactly a year ago, President Obama warned the use of chemical weapons was a red line President Bashar al-Assad should not cross. Six months after the warning, Assad did just that, thumbing his nose at Obama. Since then, Assad crossed Obama's red line five more times, killing thousands of women and children.

Until this week, Obama's strategy was to dance around the issue. First, he was not sure that chemical weapons had been used. Then he admitted that they had been but insisted he did not know who had used them. He then conceded that Assad might have been the culprit. And, yet, he demanded evidence. When he did get evidence, however, Obama started talking of his need for "hard evidence."

It now seems that Obama has enough "hard evidence" to persuade him to get off the fence he has been sitting on since the Syrian tragedy began 30 months ago. The problem is that he may get off one fence only to quickly sit on another. That Obama is beset by tergiversation is indicated by the fact that he has kept a low profile, allowing aides, including Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry, to indulge in declamatory outbursts. If Obama orders any kind of military action it would be in response to the "something-must-be-done" chorus and not on the basis of any credible strategy to impact the most deadly civil war the Middle East has witnessed in centuries.

Obama is expert in grand statements that are quickly forgotten. More than two months ago, he made much of his decision to arm Syrian rebels. By the time of this writing, the rebels had received nothing. Worse still, US Arab allies, notably Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have slowed down arms shipments to rebels because they were pressed by Kerry to do so to win Russian support for another Geneva conference on Syria.

Biden and Kerry have hinted that any action would be a limited response to Assad's use of chemical weapons and not aimed at regime change. That is, if Assad continues to kill Syrians with weapons other than chemical ones, he could continue unhindered. According to UN estimates, since the conflict started some 4,000 Syrians have died every month.

There are two ways the US might help shape the outcome of the struggle for Syria.

The first is to train and arm the rebels with the help of regional and European allies while protecting the refugee centers against attacks by Assad and Lebanese Hezbollah mercenaries. The second is to use US and allied firepower to degrade Assad's war machine, accelerating the victory of the rebels. That would require a greater military commitment with setting up no-fly zones and creating safe havens within Syria itself. Both options require a clear moral and political commitment to regime change. The message would be clear: Regardless of whether he kills people with ordinary weapons or deadly chemicals, Assad must go.

I am not sure Obama wants or can adopt such a commitment. Like love, war requires total and passionate commitment. A reluctant warrior is more of a danger to himself and his friends than to real or imagined adversaries. Saying that Obama is no war leader is not meant to belittle the man. Obama is an astute politician in the American context.

But he demonstrated his ineptitude as a war leader in Afghanistan and Libya. In Afghanistan, his "right war" as opposed to the "wrong war" in Iraq, he sabotaged his "surge" by fixing a date for the withdrawal of forces deployed. All the Taliban had to do was to sit back and wait for that date before resuming their deadly campaign to prevent Afghanis from securing a better life. In Libya the US ended up as loser on all accounts and exposed as an irresolute power that cannot even protect its diplomats.

As long as Obama is commander in chief the US is unlikely to go beyond "lite" intervention. Even then, "lite" intervention could have its uses. It could help destroy Assad's chemical capacities, depriving the tyrant of a tool of terror. "Lite" intervention could also open the way of a formal indictment against Assad. The use of chemical weapons has been outlawed by international treaties since 1925. Assad and his associates could face charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

"Lite" intervention is more of a semiological rather than a military move. Nevertheless, signaling that Assad's crimes could provoke a response might dishearten the tyrant's supporters and encourage his opponents.

Have a comment on this PostOpinion column? Send it in to LETTERS@NYPOST.COM!

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Just do it, Mr. President

At least when Jimmy Carter speaks, he's undermining some other president's foreign policy. Not so President Obama, who may be the first president who seems determined to undermine his own.

As a result, those lined up against him are not just the usual assortment of leftist and libertarians opposed to any exercise of US military force. Conservative hawks who were agitating against Assad back when Hillary Clinton was calling him a "reformer" worry that a strike led by Obama will be worse than no strike at all. Even among the international community that Obama invoked so often yesterday, he has less support than any of his predecessors.

REUTERS

President Obama in the Cabinet Room.

When George H.W. Bush took us to war against Saddam Hussein in 1990, he had the blessing of the UN Security Council and a coalition of nearly three dozen countries. When George W. Bush did it a decade later, he had a weaker UN mandate but even more countries. But Barack Obama has now managed the extraordinary feat of turning even Britain against us.

If the president would stop telling everyone what he's not going to do, he would find he has some good options. These include but are not limited to missile attacks designed to strip Bashar al-Assad of the air power he has used so ruthlessly against his enemies by taking out airports, control towers and the like.

Leading from behind won't cut it. The president will neither recover his credibility nor deter Assad from his deadly course until he strikes in a way that either topples the Assad regime or deprives him of his most important military capabilities. Such a strike would open up good possibilities for Syria, and make Iran and other enemies think twice about their own actions.

Notwithstanding his insistence yesterday that he hasn't made a decision, the whole world now knows the president has committed America to military action. We urge him to make it count.

Have an opinion on this Post editorial? Send it in to LETTERS@NYPOST.COM!

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Reality stars: Where are they now?

Once the reality TV craze took hold in the early 2000s, new shows popped up every five minutes and the most random people on the planet were kissed by fame — and then slapped in the face, when the spotlight shifted to somebody else. A number of reality TV victors — and survivors — spoke to The Post about their experiences and what they're doing today.

Everett Collection

STEVEN W. BAILEY

"My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance" (Fox)

Bailey had a unique reality TV experience — he was acting the whole time. In 2004, he pretended to be a slovenly guy who made things difficult on unsuspecting Randi Coy, who would win $250,000 if she could convince her family she was marrying him.

Although the show gave him huge exposure, it wasn't necessarily positive.

"Right after doing 'Big Fat' there was a stigma and I didn't book a job for awhile," he says. "I went to a prominent theater school and I did theater for years and I show up in LA and they're like, 'Do we want to associate the burping and farting guy with our show?'"

But things turned out fine for Bailey who was a regular on ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" as bartender Joe and is currently playing coroner Noah Elliot on ABC's "Scandal."

Craig Blankenhorn

JAY McCARROLL

"Project Runway" (Bravo) Season 1 winner

McCarroll was living the glam life when he won the first season of "Project Runway" in 2004, showing at fashion week and designing gowns for Heidi Klum. These days he's living in Philadelphia, where he teaches fashion courses, he and was recently named the fashion ambassador of Hamilton Mall in New Jersey. He sells his pieces — easy-to-wear knits — at a store there called Never Too Spoiled and on his Web site. And he doesn't mind going from the catwalk to casual wear.

"I never imagined being Michael Kors, and I still don't," he says. "It's stressful and a lot of work and a lot of money. But I've managed to find my niche. "

The 38-year-old has mixed feelings about his reality TV fame. "It's interesting to see how fickle people are. And everyone can attest to this. Look at Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears," he says. "Everyone wants to see you fail, and it's hard for people to continue to support you. At one point the world loves me and now it's like, who the f - - k is that?"

Everett Collection

RACHEL LOVE

"The Swan" winner (Fox)

Love, 36, won the most controversial reality TV prize of all time — major plastic surgery — in Fox's jaw-dropping 2004 series. But she says the therapy that came along with it made the whole experience worthwhile.

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Simms makes case to be Jets third-string QB

Matt Simms may have played his way onto the Jets Thursday night … if he can walk this morning.

The quarterback made his case to be the team's third-string quarterback after completing 33-of-44 for 285 yards in a 27-20 win over the Eagles at MetLife Stadium in the teams' preseason finale.

We'll find out in the coming days if the Jets' brass feels Simms showed enough to get a roster spot over Greg McElroy, who did not play because of a left knee injury he aggravated in practice this week. The only problem for Simms may be how sore he is today after getting sacked seven times behind a porous offensive line consisting of almost all backups.

Paul J. Bereswill

Matt Simms

After a rocky start, Simms was unbelievably accurate. He completed 25-of-27 passes during one stretch.

The son of Giants legend Phil Simms, Matt made his first professional start last night and played the entire game. Rookie Geno Smith, the Jets' likely Week 1 starter, did not play in the game. Mark Sanchez is out with a shoulder injury.

General manager John Idzik and coach Rex Ryan now must decide if Simms makes the cut. They will cut 22 players by tomorrow night at 6 p.m. to get the roster to 53.

Whoever is chosen between Simms and McElroy could be the Jets' backup quarterback against the Buccaneers on Sept. 8. The Jets remain unsure if Sanchez will be able to play in that game. He still has not thrown a football and with each passing day the chances he'll play are decreasing. A source said the most optimistic timeline the Jets have been given on Sanchez is he could play in Week 1, but it depends on how quickly Sanchez can begin throwing again.

A clean-shaven Sanchez watched Simms operate the offense from the sideline last night. Things started out roughly for the second-year quarterback from Franklin Lakes, N.J. His first pass was nearly intercepted by Eagles linebacker Chris McCoy. He was sacked by McCoy on his second attempt and then was sacked for a safety on his third play to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead.

The Jets defense got the ball back quickly when linebacker Ricky Sapp sacked Eagles quarterback Nick Foles and forced a fumble that nose tackle Antonio Garay recovered.

Taking the ball over at the Philadelphia 29, Simms began to hit a few passes and running back Kahlil bell scored an 8-yard touchdown out of the wildcat to give the Jets a 7-2 lead.

Simms spent most of the night running for his life behind the backup offensive line. Vlad Ducasse was the only potential starter to play. The left side of the line — rookie guard Brian Winters and tackle Jason Smith — had a brutal night. Smith, in particular, was atrocious and most likely played his way off the roster. Smith unofficially gave up three sacks.

After that initial drive, Simms settled in and picked apart the Eagles defense. Granted, the Eagles were playing their backups but Simms looked like he was playing a video game, hitting every pass and marching the Jets down the field. Outside of two fumbles, one that was lost, he played very well.

The Eagles cut the sore to 10-5 on a Alex Henery 38-yard field goal just before halftime. Nick Folk pushed the Jets' lead to 13-5 with a 28-yard field goal of his own in the third quarter.

Eagles draft pick Matt Barkley came in at quarterback in the third quarter and led Philadelphia to its only touchdown. Matthew Tucker ran it in from three yards and ran for the two-point conversion to tie the game at 13-13.

The Jets spared everyone from a second straight week of overtime when Bell scored his second touchdown of the night early in the fourth quarter to make it 20-13.

Safety Antonio Allen put the exclamation point on the win with an interception returned for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

brian.costello@nypost.com

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Murray spoofs Liberace for Dave’s 20th

David Letterman marks his 20th anniversary at CBS tonight. To mark the occasion, The irrepressible Bill Murray is his special guest. His entrance, in a White Rolls and costumed as Liberace in a flowing white cape and holding a white poodle, drew cheers from the studio audience.

"I didn't know you had a dog," Letterman said when Murray joined him at the desk.

"I had to get something to go with this outfit," Murray replied.

"My heart has taken flight," Letterman replied, chuckling.

Murray was a guest on Letterman's first late-night show on NBC in 1982. He was also Dave's first guest on "Late Show" on Aug. 30, 1993.

Regis Philbin, Tony Randall, Julia Roberts, George Clooney and Brian Williams have made the most appearances on "Late Show."

In Dave's 20 years with CBS, nearly 3900 episodes have been telecast, with the show winning nine Emmy Awards. Letterman was also honored at the Kennedy Center ceremonies last year.

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Talk show guests

FRIDAY

CHRIS BROWN - Today, 7 a.m., Ch. 4

TYLER PERRY, OPRAH WINFREY - LIVE! with Kelly and Michael, 9 a.m., Ch. 7

GRETTA MONAHAN, LAUREN GRAHAM - Rachael Ray, 10 a.m., Ch. 7

DR. GADGET - The Wendy Williams Show, 10 a.m., Ch. 5 and 4 p.m., Ch. 9

CHRIS POWELL - Dr. Oz Show, 11 a.m., Ch. 5

CHIQUIS RIVERA, JEFF DANIELS, BERNADETTE PETERS - The View, 11 a.m., Ch. 7

LAKE BELL, JOSH DUHAMEL, SCOTT CONANT - Access Hollywood Live, 11 a.m., Ch. 4

JESSICA WALTER, ANDY COHEN - Anderson Live, 12 p.m., Ch. 5

FABIO VIVIANI - The Chew, 1 p.m., Ch. 7

CHRIS BOTTI - Tavis Smiley, 1 p.m., Ch. 13

SELENA GOMEZ - The Talk, 2 p.m., Ch. 2

AMY ZIERING, KIRBY DICK - The Jeff Probst Show, 2 p.m., Ch. 4

MIKE TYSON - Steve Harvey, 3 p.m., Ch. 4

WENDY LAWLESS, GREGG MILLIGAN - The Ricki Lake Show, 3 p.m., Ch. 11

CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER, NIECY NASH, STEVE SCHIRRIPA - Katie, 3 p.m., Ch. 7

BOB HARPER - The Dr. Oz Show, 4 p.m., Ch. 5

MILA KUNIS, TEGAN AND SARA - The Ellen DeGeneres Show , 4 p.m., Ch. 4

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, DIABLO CODY - The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, 11:35 p.m., Ch. 4

DENZEL WASHINGTON, JAMES MCCARTNEY - Late Show with David Letterman, 11:35 p.m., Ch. 2

JOSH DUHAMEL, ADAM PERRY LANG - Jimmy Kimmel Live, 11:35 p.m., Ch. 7

KATHRYN HAHN, JOHN CAPARULO, JEN KIRKMAN - Chelsea Lately, 12:30 a.m., (E!)

WAYNE SHORTER - Tavis Smiley, 12:30 a.m., Ch. 13

BRYAN CRANSTON, COMMON, MIRANDA HART - Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, 12:36 a.m., Ch. 4

STEVE CARELL, DREW BREES, NEIL PATRICK HARRIS - The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, 12:37 a.m., Ch. 2

PETE WENTZ - Last Call with Carson Daly, 1:36 a.m., Ch. 4

MONDAY

LISA KUDROW, SELENA GOMEZ, DR. WENDY BAZILIAN - LIVE! with Kelly and Michael, 9 a.m., Ch. 7

SUNNY ANDERSON - Rachael Ray, 10 a.m., Ch. 7

ANDY COHEN, DAPHNE OZ - The Wendy Williams Show, 10 a.m., Ch. 5

JOE SCARBOROUGH, MIKA BRZEZINSKI - The View, 11 a.m., Ch. 7

MARILU HENNER, CRYSTAL MCVEA - Anderson Live, 12 p.m., Ch. 5

WAYNE SHORTER - Tavis Smiley, 1 p.m., Ch. 13

BETTY WHITE, AL ROKER, JR MARTINEZ - Katie, 3 p.m., Ch. 7

ANDY COHEN, DAPHNE OZ - The Wendy Williams Show, 4 p.m., Ch. 9

JEFF DANIELS, GREG FITZSIMMONS, NATASHA LEGGERO - Chelsea Lately, 11 p.m., (E!)

KEVIN HART, CHRIS KLUWE - Conan, 11 p.m. and 12:30 a.m., (TBS)

HARRISON FORD, KERI RUSSELL - Jimmy Kimmel Live, 11:35 p.m., Ch. 7

DEREK JETER, EMMA ROBERTS - Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, 12:36 a.m., Ch. 4

ANGELA KINSEY, DAVID FEHERTY - The Late Late Show/Craig Ferguson, 12:37 a.m., Ch. 2

REGIS PHILBIN, SEAN DUNNE - Last Call with Carson Daly, 1:36 a.m., Ch. 4

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‘Scandal’s’ red menace

Although giving away Season 3 spoilers is strictly forbidden on the set of "Scandal," Darby Stanchfield, who plays crisis manager Abby Whelan, gives a few tantalizing glimpses of what's coming our way.

For instance, Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) isn't going to be the only one in deep trouble in the Oct. 3 Season 3 premiere.

"You think Olivia is in trouble and we are just going to slap her photo on the board," Stanchfield says, referring to the board where Pope & Associates posts pictures of clients in crisis. "It's not like we handle it in a predictable 'case of the week' way," she says. "There isn't only one public scandal with Olivia at the center. It ends up being like five things instead of just one."

CRISIS MANAGEMENT: Kerry Washington, Darby Stanchfield and Katie Lowes face a new season of betrayals on ABC's "Scandal."

Stanchfield, 42, takes a dramatic pause. "Twitter is going to explode."

Since the social media Web site has proven a key ingredient in the success of the show — the entire cast, led by series star Washington, live-tweets through each episode.

Twitter fans want Abby and David (Joshua Malina) to hook up again.

Stanchfield and Malina are great friends and traveled to the Monte Carlo TV Festival together this summer to promote the show, which is wildly popular in Europe.

How surprised was Stanchfield when she learned that Rosen was the mole?

"There are three kinds of people that Abby can not stand — cheaters, liars and whores," she says.

Rosen undermined the Gladiators — that's Olivia's team — by helping a double-agent out to destroy the President. In the end, Rosen betrayed the double-agent, and furthered his own career.

"So now he wears a white hat, which means that Abby and David are in new territory," she says.

As Season 3 opens, some scenes pick up immediately from last season's shock-producing final episode; others flash forward.

There are also plenty of scenes that flash backward, giving insight into all of the characters' backgrounds, including Abby's.

As for interesting backgrounds, Stanfield's is one of the most unusual. The daughter of a crab fisherman, she grew up in the town of Dutch Harbor on the Aleutian Islands, a two-and-a-half-hour flight from Anchorage, or a week by boat from Seattle.

She describes it as a town that had one gas station, one grocery store, one pizza parlor, and snows 3/4 of the year. "I ended up acting because I grew up pretending and making things up, just for something to do," she says.

After the family moved to Mercer Island, off of Seattle, she attended the University of Puget Sound, graduating in l993 with a degree in communications.

Being out of the sunlight for much of her childhood may have given her skin a beautiful translucent white glow, but it didn't help with much else.

"It was culture shock when we moved near Seattle," she says. "I never saw 'The Brady Bunch,' never saw 'Gilligan's Island' I didn't know anything about pop culture."

Now she's in the center of a pop-culture phenomenon. How was she cast by creator Shonda Rhimes?

"The good old-fashioned way," she says. "I auditioned twice. It was surreal. When I was finished, Shonda stared at me for 30 seconds and I just stared back at her, and neither of us said a word. She probably figured I had the guts."

In person Stanfield, 42, looks more like a high-fashion model than a tough crisis manager. Her formerly straight hair is fluffy and wavy.

"They changed my hair and bumped up my fashion," she says, with a smile that indicates she is thrilled about the stylish new look.

"We decided we should keep her simple and plain, but with new accessories and a fun wardrobe," she says.

"Abby has been pretty black-and-white, but she's getting softer."

The actress is aware hat her fans want to see her turbo-charged after Rosen betrayed her, though.

"They want to see Abby pull out her Glock and use it," she says, raising an eyebrow.

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Killer among us

Collinston, Louisiana, is a place where everyone thought they knew each other — until Mattie Williams, the 67-year-old mother of 13, was murdered on Aug. 27. 2006. To say the town was rocked is an understatement. To hear the locals tell it in next Tuesday's episode of TNT's "Cold Justice," Williams mothered everybody.

"When somebody like her gets murdered in a small town, it's a huge thing," says Yolanda McClary in the front seat of Kelly Siegler's car as they drive to talk to the sheriff and then meet with Williams' children.

McClary, a crime scene investigator from Las Vegas, and Siegler, a prosecutor, are unusual duo — two women with different backgrounds in criminal justice brought together to make a reality show about the settling of "cold" cases for the families of victims.

TRUE CRIME: Major Terry Wyatt and Yolanda McClary inspect a car used in a the murder of Mattie Williams in TNT's "Cold Justice."

Their first stop: a meeting at the Morehouse Parish Sheriff's office.

"Our goal is download your brain into ours," says Siegler, a no-nonsense brunette with an impressive track record of convictions.

Still, it takes a lot of guts for two total strangers to drive into a close-knit community and get people to spill. Siegler looked through many cases before coming up with the roster that comprises the eight episodes of "Cold Justice."

"We have to have the cops want us to help," Siegler says. "They have to be wiling to share their information."

"We don't have jurisdiction," McClary says.

They need a liaison to help them talk to Williams' kids and find him in Sheriff Mike Tubbs.

The empathetic Siegler establishes immediate trust with one of Williams' daughters, who wants to know what she and her siblings can expect to take away from the experience.

"We wouldn't be here if we didn't think we could [find the killer] baby," she says.

The "Cold Justice" team didn't have a lot of time — eight days — to make its case.

"If you're working on a cold case in the big city, you can take your time going to a crime scene because word's not going to get out that you're going over there," Siegler says. "In a small town you have a limited window where you can probe for information."

In questioning the Williams children, it becomes clear that their brother, John, is a suspect. Siegler, McClary and the Morehouse sheriffs also conclude that Williams was not killed at home. After a few days of investigation, the team thinks they've found two suspects, but they get some bad news: the D.A. thinks there isn't enough evidence to issue an arrest warrant.

Kelly and McClary did not know each other before "Cold Justice" and they had to find a way to bond on camera. "She's country girl and I'm bling bling," says McClary.

"Cold Justice" is tightly edited, with short scenes and just enough establishing shots of the town to stave off claustrophobia, but Siegler wants you to know, "It's not just a TV show. We're making cases prosecutable to win convictions."

It's a huge relief to the family that Siegler and McClary are able to make an arrest in the murder of Mattie Williams.

With their first season behind them, Siegler is looking for her next 10 cases.

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Don’t get clipped, beware easy cash ‘flips’

John Crudele

Here's what this guy in the front of the room was telling us: "Flip, flip, flip, flip, flip. Get more cash for retirement. Flip, flip, flip, flip, flip."

There may have been more "flips" in his word barrage, but you get the idea.

No, I wasn't at trapeze school. Recently I was at two-hour seminar on flipping houses. Why deal with Wall Street, the guy in charge told us, where they skim off your hard-earned money in fees.

"Do you know anyone today who is a millionaire from a 401(k)?" he asked.

Well, yes, I thought. But everyone shook their heads "no" because they knew that's the answer he was looking for.

Buy beat up houses and sell them quickly instead — that's the flip — and end up wealthy and comfortably retired, he said.

Oh, yeah, there was something else. Do it with other peoples' money, he added — a key point since many of the 60 or so folks in the room at the Hilton didn't look like they had much cash of their own.

I'm not going to spend much time on the wisdom of flipping houses for a living. Basically it's the same, "buy low, get lucky, sell high" principle that applies to all investing.

And you know the housing market must have improved because these "flipping" seminars are popping up all over.

Brian Wilks, the man leading the seminar, told the attendees to look for a house that's dirt cheap because the owner is either dying, has died, or is headed off to a place where he or she will be taken care of until they die.

Other targets? Houses that belong to people too broke to afford them, or too unhappily married to live in the same place as their spouse, or simply too worn out to groom the lawn, Wilks said.

There were also these gems: if there's marble in the kitchen, it's a home run; if the bathrooms are mold-free, that's aces; if the house isn't near a toxic waste dump or psycho neighbor, go for it.

One of the main themes of the seminar was that to become a successful real estate speculator — excuse me, "entrepreneur" — you also need to be able to afford to pay other people to do all of the manual labor.

So remember to build that little expense into your budget. This way you — the boss — won't be distracted from spotting houses to flip, flip, flip.

Hey, maybe I can do this after all! I'm great at hiring others to do my work.

OK, I think you understand the pitch. This column isn't about the wisdom of buying and selling houses. I've known people who have been successful and others who've gotten clobbered, losing all they made on previous deals.

Timing isn't everything, because luck also matters a lot. (For example: Is Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke going to allow mortgage rates to go much higher and disqualify the buyer who might purchase the house you want to flip? Guess wrong and it could cost you a lot of money.)

Rather, this column is about Wilks and his backup team, which, for a mere $197, would like to have me and the others for an intense three-day workshop in late September in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ.

Wilks says he's offering the seminar at this enormous discount, but he won't give it away. By charging something — the price of one less cup of coffee a day for a year — Wilks tells us he'll be able to separate those of us who are merely "curious" from those who are "serious" about changing our lives.

Amen to that!

There is no mention of those of us (probably just me) who simply wanted to be entertained and perhaps fed during a dull summer lunch hour. But I learned soon after I arrived that there would be no food, which caused me to attempt, but ultimately fail, to crash a Met Life executive meeting going on in the next room.

The lack of a free lunch was Wilks' first mistake. What better way to show your guests how affluent flipping houses has made you than to toss them a ham on rye and a bag of chips. Heck, flip a burger while you are flipping houses if you want to prove you've attained a level of disposable income that puts you above the others in the room.

"We eat, sleep and drink real estate," Wilks started. "We know it makes money." His company flipped more than 100 houses last year and made a bundle. "We turn dumps into diamonds," he said.

"How many of you in the room would like to make some quick cash?" he asked. "Raise your hand." Double, amen.

"How many of you would like an extra $75,000 a year?" I raised my hand because I didn't want to be spotted as a fraud. "Some of you in this room are one flip away from having no debt."

Damn, I want to be Wilks' friend! So does the woman in front of me with the boyfriend wearing an MTA uniform. She was nodding like a bobblehead at everything Wilks said.

So, was this worth my time? Was it good theater?

Yes, yes and yes. I give Wilks 3- 1/2 stars out of 5. But points were deducted because my stomach was growling the whole time. I'm more enthusiastic after a meal.

john.crudele@nypost.com

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Singer eyeing court $upport

Billionaire hedge-fund mogul Paul Singer may ask a Manhattan federal appeals court to force Argentina to fork over $1.4 billion in bond payments as soon as next month, sources told The Post.

Singer is weighing such a move after Argentina's President Cristina Kirchner went on local TV and suggested a way of side-stepping a recent court order.

The Manhattan appeals court ruled Argentina has to pay Singer's Elliott Management and other investors about $1.4 billion due on their unrestructured bonds — but stayed the order pending the country's full appeal.

After Kirchner's move, Singer is weighing asking the court to lift the stay, sources said.

If Singer successfully petitions the court, the South American nation could be forced to pay Singer and others when it makes its next interest payment to the owners of the restructured bonds in late September.

Argentina restructured its debt in 1992, and 93 percent of all bondholders agreed to the sharp haircut.

Singer bought bonds from among the holdouts at a steep discount and pursued a full payout through US courts over a decade.

Kirchner has vowed not to pay Singer a single cent — calling him and other holdouts "vultures."

Many observers suggested Kirchner's move this week was politically motivated since her party is doing badly in polls ahead of this fall's elections.

Yesterday, Argentina's Economy Minister Hernán Lorenzino defended Kirchner.

"This is not a unilateral decision to alter payment mechanisms," he said, according to a Bloomberg News report.

"We see it as a voluntary option for creditors who think it's more convenient to renounce the rights of US legislation and accept another legislation."

mcelarier@nypost.com

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A ‘loser’ on M’soft CEO list

A gambling website's favorite as Microsoft's next chief executive officer is Stephen Elop, the Nokia Oyj CEO who has presided over a 62 percent decline in market value.

Elop, a former Microsoft executive, has 5-to-1 odds to be hired as Steve Ballmer's successor, according to Ladbrokes Plc, the U.K.-based gambling operator. He leads a pool including internal candidates Kevin Turner and Julie Larson-Green and outsiders like Apple CEO Tim Cook — a 100-to-1 dark horse.

Ballmer is expected to step down sometime in the next year.

Microsoft is searching for a CEO who can help it fight back against competition in mobile, search, video, gaming and personal-computing development.

Bloomberg

Stephen Elop

Elop was the president of Microsoft's business division, where he was in charge of Microsoft Office, before taking the top job at Nokia.

On Sept. 10, 2010, when the Finland-based company hired Elop, it was trading at 7.79 euros a share. Nokia fell to 2.96 euros yesterday in Helsinki.

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Oil hits 2-year high; gas holding steady

The price of oil climbed to its highest level in more than two years yesterday as the US edged closer to taking action against Syria for the alleged use of chemical weapons.

Benchmark oil for October delivery rose $1.09, or 1 percent, to $110.10 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. That's its highest closing price since May 3, 2011. Earlier, oil climbed as high as $112.24.

Oil has surged 27 percent since touching a low for the year of $86.68 on April 17.

The average price for gasoline is $3.55 a gallon in the US, according to the AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge report. Because of ample supplies, the price of gasoline has remained fairly steady during August even with the recent surge in oil.

But US Bank Wealth Management national investment consultant Dan Heckman cautions that high oil could eventually have an impact. "The longer you have this sustained high level ... ultimately that will transfer to gasoline prices."

In the run-up to the first Gulf War, oil prices more than doubled from under $20 in July of 1990 to $40 a barrel in October of that year.

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Talk show guests

WEDNESDAY

TYLER FLORENCE, LIZ VACCARRIELLO - Good Morning America, 7 a.m., Ch. 7

MARIAH CAREY, KERRY WASHINGTON - LIVE! with Kelly and Michael, 9 a.m., Ch. 7

PETER WALSH, GRETTA MONAHAN - Rachael Ray, 10 a.m., Ch. 7

MAGIC JOHNSON, LORENA GARCÃA - Wendy Williams Show, 10 a.m., Ch. 5 and 4 p.m., Ch. 9

LENNON STELLA, MAISY STELLA, SWEET BROWN SUGAR - The View, 11 a.m., Ch. 7

DR. ANDREW WEIL - Dr. Oz Show, 11 a.m., Ch. 5

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL, RACHELLE LEFEVRE - Access Hollywood Live, 11 a.m., Ch. 4

CHEF ERIC RIPERT - The Chew, 1 p.m., Ch. 7

MELISSA JOAN HART, JOEY LAWRENCE, DR. WENDY WALSH - The Talk, 2 p.m., Ch. 2

MARK WAHLBERG, DIDDY - The Ellen DeGeneres Show , 4 p.m., Ch. 4

ALEXANDER SKARSGÃ…RD, GEORGE R.R. MARTIN - Conan, 11 p.m., (TBS)

MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS, JEFF WILD, SARAH TIANA - Chelsea Lately, 11 p.m., (E!)

SELENA GOMEZ, BEN STEIN - Jimmy Kimmel Live, 11:35 p.m., Ch. 7

STAFF SGT. TY CARTER , IN THE VALLEY BELOW - Late Show with David Letterman, 11:35 p.m., Ch. 2

MATT LEBLANC, KATHRYN HAHN - The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, 11:35 p.m., Ch. 4

TYRA BANKS, SIMON PEGG, DOMINIQUE ANSEL - Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, 12:36 a.m., Ch. 4

BETTY WHITE, SARAH PAULSON - The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, 12:37 a.m., Ch. 2

ADAM DEVINE, JAMES HANCOCK - Last Call with Carson Daly, 1:36 a.m., Ch. 4

THURSDAY

EMERIL LAGASSE - Good Morning America, 7 a.m., Ch. 7

BRAD GORESKI, MARC MURPHY, DR. IAN SMITH - Rachael Ray, 10 a.m., Ch. 7

ANGELA "BIG ANG" RAIOLA - The Wendy Williams Show, 10 a.m., Ch. 5 and 4 p.m., Ch. 9

LAUREN SANCHEZ, ETHAN HAWKE, JOHN WALSH - The View, 11 a.m., Ch. 7

TODD BRIDGES, ROB KAZINSKY - Access Hollywood Live, 11 a.m., Ch. 4

SABRINA SOTO - The Chew, 1 p.m., Ch. 7

SCOTT FOLEY, JORDANA BREWSTER, JACKIE WARNER - The Talk, 2 p.m., Ch. 2

CHELSEA HANDLER, KATHY NAJIMY, LARRY KING - Katie, 3 p.m., Ch. 7

GWYNETH PALTROW - The Dr. Oz Show, 4 p.m., Ch. 5

STEVE CARELL, EMILY VANCAMP - The Ellen DeGeneres Show , 4 p.m., Ch. 4

JONAH HILL, COCO AUSTIN, ICE-T - Conan, 11 p.m., (TBS)

LARRY DAVID, NAYA RIVERA - Jimmy Kimmel Live, 11:35 p.m., Ch. 7

JULIE SCARDINA, ROD STEWART - The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, 11:35 p.m., Ch. 4

JENNIFER ANISTON, LENNY KRAVITZ - Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, 12:36 a.m., Ch. 4

JON HAMM, GEORGIA KING - The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, 12:37 a.m., Ch. 2

MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ, HANNI EL KHATIB - Last Call with Carson Daly, 1:36 a.m., Ch. 4

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A toddler’s preventable death

The Issue: The death of Tharell Edward, a 3-year-old in Brooklyn who was shot by a family friend.

***

Tharell Edward, a 3-year-old, was shot in the head at his Brooklyn apartment Saturday morning ("Brooklyn Tot Shot in Head," Aug. 25).

You would think he would have been free from harm in his own home.

Stop-and-frisk might have taken this gun off the street. Now, our finest in the NYPD may not continue this policy for fear of being sued.

The death of more children seems to be on the way. I hope our City Council is pleased with itself.

In the words of Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch: "All officers should take action if he or she sees a crime in progress. But all officers should be careful not to initiate any law-enforcement action that could be construed as violating the new legislation and subject the officer to legal action." It is truly sad it has come to this.

Frederick R. Bedell Jr.

Glen Oaks Village

Before the media start screaming about the need for more gun control in the wake of the shooting of a 3-year-old in Brooklyn, note that the suspect in the shooting is a family friend with a long rap sheet.

This man would not have been able to legally buy a gun in this city with his record.

What law do you think could have made a difference?Steve Becker

East Meadow

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‘Mad’ about Harry

When Harry Hamlin was in his prime, as the sexy, dynamic attorney Michael Kuzak on "L.A. Law," he used to forget to submit himself for an Emmy nomination. Back before showbiz awards fever swept the media like smallpox, actors and publicists and producers didn't live and die based on the number of times they were nominated and the categories they landed in.

"I don't think that back then, in the 'L.A. Law' days, they were as enthusiastic about putting their cast members up for Emmys. Awards shows were different," he says. "It's a bigger deal now. The Emmys were at the Civic Auditorium in Pasadena. 'L.A. Law' won every year. There were no parties, no swag. No trips to Tahiti."

SIXTIES CHIC: Harry Hamlin (left) and John Slattery on "Mad Men."

Above: Hamlin in his dreamboat days (1986-91) on "L.A. Law."

Now, at the ripe age of 61, Hamlin has just received his first Emmy nomination, as Best Guest actor in a dramatic role for his dry, witty take on "Mad Men" as suave ad exec Jim Cutler. For a man who's done everything in his career, from "Clash of the Titans" to "Veronica Mars" and "Dancing With the Stars," he's tickled.

Especially since he wasn't supposed to get the "Mad Men" role at all. The way Hamlin tells it, via phone from his Canadian summer retreat, creator Matthew Weiner doesn't like to hire familiar faces, known quantities, call it what you will. Hamlin was sneaked into a casting session for a role as a "swinger boss."

The casting people couldn't even put his real name on the call sheet.

"When I walked in the door, I think Matt was a little shocked to see me," Hamlin says. He read, Weiner gave helpful notes, but Hamlin didn't get the part.

Several months later, they had a role more suited for him. But because the show was "Mad Men," the Kremlin of cable dramas, Hamlin was not allowed to see a script. Or to know who he'd be playing.

Hamlin told his agent, "I don't usually work that way. It goes against my training. They said, 'We can only guarantee you a day, they won't tell me who it is.' I told my agent, 'I think I'm gonna turn it down.' Lisa said no. She said, 'Have fun and do it.' I usually do what she tells me to do."

Lisa is actress Lisa Rinna, Hamlin's third wife and the mother of their two teenage daughters, Delilah and Amelia. They have been married for 15 years. (Hamlin also has a 33-year-old son, Dmitri, from a previous relationship with actress Ursula Andress.) They have both appeared, in separate seasons, on "Dancing With the Stars" and did a reality show together, "Harry Loves Lisa," when he wanted to stay home in LA. "I took 10 years off to raise my kids," he says. "Then it was time to go back to my day job."

Making unconventional career choices suits him, whether it's playing a gay role in the controversial 1982 film "Making Love," opposite "Twin Peaks" star Michael Ontkean, or doing "Dancing With the Stars."

When his agent told him not to rhumba and foxtrot on the ABC reality show in 2006, Hamlin fired him.

"In order to do it, I had to let to him go," Hamlin says. "He said it would be foolish. 'You won't get away with it. You'll ruin my career.' I said, 'I don't care.' I needed it for my spirit. At that particular moment I wanted a challenge, something impossible to do."

It was easier to play a gay pedophile on Showtime's "Shameless." Hamlin simply went on the Atkins diet to "combat excess body fat" for the required nude scenes. When it came time to slip into Jim Cutler's snug turtlenecks and blazers, Hamlin was already svelte.

"The clothing is so great on that show," he says. "[Costume designer] Janie Bryant makes sure everything is just right. Everything is from the period — the shoelaces and the cufflinks."

"Mad Men" is on hiatus until next year and Hamlin hasn't heard whether Jim will be back. "It was really fun. The audience seemed to respond well," he says, adding that "Mad Men" and "Shameless" have resulted in more scripts coming his way. "I've seen a lot of activity. I haven't found anything that I really love yet, but I have a good feeling of how things are gonna go."

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Demi’s ‘Glee’ role revealed

Demi Lovato will go to "the dark side" on "Glee."

Naya Rivera revealed that Lovato will date her character Santana and will be making her debut in a Beatles-themed episode.

"She's playing my love interest, so I'm very excited about that" Rivera told MTV at the "Video Music Awards." "We're bringing her to the dark side."

The pop star and "X Factor" judge confirmed this week that she'd be joining the cast when she tweeted: "Wayyyyy too excited to be starting @GLEE this week!!!!!!!"

Season 5 of "Glee" premieres September 26.

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My life with Calvin

Back in early 2010, designer Calvin Klein and his young lover, Nick Gruber, embarked on a two-year relationship. The affair marked the first time that Klein went public with a male lover.

Their romance soured when Gruber was busted for assault and cocaine possession in April 2012, and the 23-year-old was ushered off to a posh Arizona rehab facility. After his release, Gruber settled in LA, where he found a new, wealthy boyfriend and announced that he was writing a book about his time with the intensely private fashion icon.

In October 2012, Page Six Magazine was invited to Southern California to photograph him and reveal some of the juicier aspects of the tell-all. The story appeared in the December issue of the glossy magazine.

Splashnews

Calvin Klein (left) and Nick Gruber attend the 27th annual Night of Stars at Cipriani Wall Street on Oct. 28, 2010.

Photos: PHOTOS: A history of Nick Gruber and Calvin Klein

Then, in February, Gruber announced that he had second thoughts about pursuing the sordid book project, telling TMZ, "I'm a nice person, not a mean person." Since making that statement, the troubled Gruber has returned to the Big Apple, and last week he denied there was ever such a book in the works.

"That was false information. I never said that I was gonna write a book. I never would do something like that or hurt someone that I love," Gruber told Gawker's Michael Musto.

Despite his denial of the existence of such a manuscript, The New York Post has obtained a copy of Gruber's book proposal, titled "Obsession: My Life With Calvin Klein," co-written by journalist Lisa Arcella.

When asked for comment about the book proposal, Matt Rich, Gruber's p.r. representative, responded: "A previous advisor, whom [Gruber] no longer speaks with, wrote up a proposal without [Gruber's] permission or consent and circulated it. Those weren't his words."

Calvin Klein spokesman Paul Wilmot declined to comment.

Here's what's alleged in the book proposal's contents.

Nick Gruber grew up a world away from Calvin Klein's chic jet-set lifestyle. He would meet his father for the first time as a teenager, but until then he was shuffled between various foster families in Florida while his mother served prison time. At age 15, Gruber was sent to live in the small resort town of McCall, Idaho, with his father, a former Hells Angel. Gruber never questioned this transient, grifter existence until he met fashion icon Calvin Klein.

After vandalizing vacation homes in McCall, he returned to California, where his mother was living. Gruber, then just barely 18, was at the welfare office picking up his mother's food stamps when "an overweight and unattractive man" approached him in an encounter that would soon change the course of the poor, wayward teen's life.

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Prince reigns in wee hours

Being asked what the best concert you've ever seen is a common query for a music critic, and now I don't have to go too far back to answer: Prince at City Winery in the early hours of Monday morning.

In the finale of a six-show residency by the New Power Generation (Prince's longtime backing band), Prince arrived onstage at 3:15 a.m. sporting a hat, black shirt, elaborate gold chain and that raw sex appeal that doesn't seem to wane with age.

Prince's arena shows are usually a feast of Top 40 hits from his long history. But for the 2 1/2 hours he was onstage, hits such as "1999" were the exception, "Days of Wild" and other deep cuts were the norm, and there was simply no way of knowing what he would do next. But seeing the 55-year-old so close-up and playing with such abandon is what made it all so exciting and kept the 700 people inside moving way past the point of exhaustion.

Getty Images

Prince, with the same 'fro and timeless sex appeal he had at May's Billboard Music Awards, gave the ultimate concert at City Winery late Sunday night.

Stylistically, there was nothing that Prince seemed reluctant to try. An extraordinary gospel take on "Nothing Compares 2 U" was followed by "Courtin' Time," which turned into an improvised jazz interlude with Prince acting as bandleader, ordering solos from his musicians at will.

For the final act of his main set, the brassy funk of the NPG combined with the guitar-based power of Prince's new backing group 3rd Eye Girl and delivered a lightning hot "Act of God" medley. It offered snippets of the Jackson 5's "Dancing Machine" and Janet Jackson's "What Have You Done for Me Lately?"

A short blast of Prince playing solo piano only served as a palette cleanser for the succession of encores that followed. The first was a little more generous with the classics; "Take Me With U" and "Raspberry Beret" both bristled with life before a version of "Cool" (recorded by the Time but penned by Prince) was given the hip-hop treatment thanks to a guest slot by Doug E. Fresh.

With the dawn light beginning to seep through the windows, he invited Sly and the Family Stone's Larry Graham (who had earlier played his own scintillating set) onstage to work through a blues jam.

The last word came courtesy of the dynamic instrumental "Plectrum Electrum" from 3rd Eye Girl, who indulged themselves in the rockier sound that has informed Prince's recent comeback and allowed the artist a platform to briefly blind the audience with his searing guitar work.

"We got about 50 more songs we could play, but we gotta go," Prince said before finally calling time on the show at just after 5:40 a.m. As his hard-core fans filed out into the street, a sense of disbelief was dominant. "Did I just dream all that?" wondered one showgoer out loud, as he stumbled into a cab. He was only saying what we were all thinking.

After all these years, Prince is still unquestionably the biggest badass around, and thanks to his almost superhuman exploits, the city that never sleeps will need to take frequent naps for several days to come.

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Obama’s third war

Ralph Peters

You might as well try to teach a snake to juggle as hope the Obama administration will think strategically. The "peace president" is about to embark on his third military adventure, this time in Syria, without having learned the lessons of his botched efforts in Afghanistan and Libya. He hasn't even learned from the Bush administration's mistakes — which he mocked with such delight.

Before launching a single cruise missile toward Syria, Team Obama needs to be sure it has a good answer to the question, "What comes next?"

If Obama does a Clinton and churns up some sand with do-nothing cruise-missile strikes, it will only encourage the Assad regime. But if our president hits Assad hard and precipitates regime change, then what?

AP

Sideshow: A UN inspector yesterday, gathering evidence at the site of a chemical attack in Syria — but the real issue is: What effective action can we take?

If al Qaeda and local Islamists seize Damascus, what will we do? The enfeebled "moderate opposition" we back rhetorically couldn't dislodge hardcore jihadis, no matter how many weapons we sent (the jihadis would simply confiscate the gear).

What if we weaken the regime to the point where the fanatics rev up their jihad to drive out Christians and other minorities? What's your plan then, Mr. President? After your night of explosive passion, will you still love the opposition in the morning?

Exactly which American vital security interests are at stake in Syria, Mr. President? Your credibility? Put a number on it. How many American lives is your blather about red lines worth?

Chemical weapons use? Horrible and illegal, a war crime. So is the mass slaughter of civilians. Is it really so much worse to be gassed than tortured to death by al Qaeda or burned alive in your church? Which is more important, the number of dead, or the means that killed them?

Islamist terrorists have killed tens, if not hundreds, of thousands, of innocent Muslims. Aren't they the real enemies of civilization?

Mr. President, do you really think it's wise to send our missiles and aircraft to provide fire support for al Qaeda? That is exactly what you'll be doing, if you hit Assad.

Assad's an odious butcher, filth on two legs. But in the world of serious strategy, you rarely get a choice between black and white. You choose between black and charcoal gray.

Employing our military assets to support either side in Syria would be a mistake. Employing them without a worst-case plan for what might follow would be criminal.

We just can't seem to learn, though. Invading Iraq, the Bush team, egged on by ideologues who never served in uniform, refused to allow our military to plan for an occupation. That sure worked out. Then, in Libya, the Obama administration deposed Khadafy, but refused to plan seriously for the aftermath. Welcome to Benghazi.

There are wars worth fighting. It was essential to go to Afghanistan in the wake of 9/11 (although staying there was idiocy). There will be future conflicts that demand our blood to defend vital interests. But we've now had a decade of do-gooder wars that haven't done much good.

For the record, I don't regret getting rid of Saddam or Khadafy. I regret the ineptitude with which we did these things. When you propose a war, don't ever expect a cheap date.

Now there's an unholy alliance pushing for attacks on Syria. We have liberal zealots, such as our UN ambassador, Samantha Power, who believe that our military's primary purpose is to protect people who hate America. We have a few Republican senators like John McCain and Lindsey Graham who support any war, any time. We have a president who thinks that, "Gee, maybe, well, gosh, I said I'd do something, so maybe I should..." And we have elements in the defense industry who long for a return to our free-spending years in Iraq and Afghanistan and view a war in Syria as a great way to beat the sequester.

And the one thing every member of that bomb-Syria-now coalition has in common? Not one will have to fight.

Ralph Peters is a retired US Army officer and Fox News' strategic analyst.

Have a comment on this PostOpinion column? Send it in to LETTERS@NYPOST.COM!

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More senseless murders: Can our culture change?

The Issue: Two recent murders committed by teens and the reactions to them by American leaders.

***

I have two questions about the tragedy in Oklahoma that ended with an innocent Australian visitor losing his life: Where is Al Sharpton now? And where are the people against stop-and-frisk now ("When Teens Kill," Editorial, Aug. 26)?

No wonder the Australian prime minister is asking his citizens not to visit our country.

Our society is very sick. We can close our eyes to it and invoke racism, civil rights and other pseudo-social explanations for the disease. Or we can stop the excuses, political pandering and finger-pointing and take the bitter medicine that can help restore our sanity.

Christopher Lane

Safety, education and a return to much-maligned family values would be great places to start.

Marcio Moreira

Chatham, NJ

Where are the calls for justice and civil marches to protest violence against our most treasured generation of seniors?

Reading how two 16-year-old boys beat an 88-year-old World War II hero to death had me crying and is beyond all comprehension. Delbert "Shorty" Belton fought to defend our country and freedom in the Battle of Okinawa and lost his life in a horrific way.

Where are those who are so vocal for other injustices? When does this stop? Community centers and their leaders, grammar schools and churches should teach everyone to value, treasure and respect each life as though it is their own.

Cindy Marazo

West Long Branch, NJ

For those — I won't call them animals because I love animals — who beat a WWII veteran to death, jail is too good. They should be sentenced to a four-year stint in the US Marine Corps. They won't last long.

Jeffrey P. Smith

Brooklyn

Where is the outrage at the latest atrocity — the murder of an innocent young man from Australia, gunned down in broad daylight while doing nothing more than jogging?

Where are President Obama and Al Sharpton these days? Why aren't they denouncing these three thugs who were so bored they murdered a visitor to our country?

Why aren't they extending the sympathy of our country to the young man's family?

Arlene Reilly

Coram

First three teens, two of whom are black, randomly shot to death a 22-year-old Australian student/athlete in Oklahoma because they were bored and wanted something fun and different to do. One black teen tweeted that 90 percent of white people are nasty and that he hated them.

Now two black teens in Spokane, Wash. beat to death 88-year-old World War II hero Delbert Belton in another random attack.

These incidents beg the questions: Where are the parents who should be supervising these kids? And why so much random violence among teens today? Something must be terribly wrong.

Kenneth L. Zimmerman

Huntington Beach, Calif.

The three Oklahoma teens who killed a jogger reportedly "practiced" on an animal. If those young men had received appropriate punishment, perhaps this tragedy could have been averted.

Medical experts and top law-enforcement officials agree: Cruelty to animals is a big red flag. Many serial rapists and murderers, including school shooters, have a background of abusing animals.

The link between cruelty to animals and interpersonal violence is undeniable. It's vital that animal abusers receive intervention to prevent their violence from escalating.

Martin Mersereau

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

Norfolk, Va

Like Belton, my father-in-law is an 88-year-old veteran of Okinawa, and beloved by his family and friends. There is no punishment harsh enough for those responsible for Belton's horrible death.

He could have been my father-in-law. Where is the Disaster-in-Chief now?Dennis Zielinski

Carlstadt, NJ

I wonder what the media and Colin Powell would have said if Belton pulled out a handgun and shot and killed one or both of his attackers.

Sam Birnbaum

Oceanside

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Fear and loathing @ Microsoft

The news that Microsoft's CEO will be retiring only underscores the transformation of the company everyone loved to hate into a staid uncle of US technology.

Back in its heyday, Microsoft was the firm that was going to eat everyone in its path. People wore T-shirts suggesting Bill Gates was a combination of Darth Vader, Big Brother and the anti-Christ.

That also seemed to be the view of Thomas Penfield Jackson, the federal judge who in 2000 decreed Microsoft an illegal monopoly and ordered it split. Jackson infamously likened Gates to Napoleon — and Microsoft to a drug-dealing street gang. So much for creative destruction.

Now, we have no doubt Microsoft used every lever to maintain its dominance — heck, Adam Smith told us that. But the Microsoft story reminds us of two truths.

The first is that tech is really about the primacy of human over physical resources. As Gates himself noted, Microsoft's chief asset — the knowhow behind its software — doesn't appear on any balance sheet.

The second is that competition makes for a dynamic market. These days even an established giant can see its business model up-ended by some app from a student in Bangalore. When it comes to cutting a firm down to size, we'll always choose the free market over the federal government.

Have an opinion on this Post editorial? Send it in to LETTERS@NYPOST.COM!

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Cablevision ripe for sale

Time may be running out for the Dolans to find a buyer for Cablevision.

With its highest valuation in two years, the $4.8 billion cable operator, founded four decades ago by Charles Dolan, should take advantage of a surge in cable matchmaking to sell, according to Macquarie Group.

Cablevision's shares have jumped 42 percent in just eight weeks as speculation heated up about cable deals, and shareholders Paulson & Co. and Gamco Investors said a sale is likely.

Cablevision, which tried and failed to take itself private in 2005 and 2007, is dwarfed by larger peers, including Time Warner Cable and Charter Communications.

That puts the company at an even bigger disadvantage if it misses out on the consolidation wave sweeping in.

Charter, backed by billionaire John Malone, is considering combining with Time Warner Cable or Cox Communications, sources have said.

"It's the perfect setup to sell the company," Amy Yong, a Macquarie analyst, said of Cablevision. "But they've got to act now, because there are definitely other assets in the mix. So if they want to be considered, they should raise their hand."

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Meet Market: Hot sauce-loving New York newbie sks gal to spice up his life

Father knows best

Alex says he has a fondness for women who were "spoiled by their fathers but not their mothers."

Hot guy

Whatever Alex eats, make it hot or hand him his favorite condiment, Frank's RedHot sauce.

Family man

"I have a very loving family," says Alex, who lists eating fried chicken with his brother among the things that make him happiest.

Small bites

This is Alex's ideal date in his own words: "Dive bar, dumplings, repeat."

Word up

Alex loves word games and admits he has raunchy poetry written with alphabet magnets on his refrigerator.

From left: Alex, Jax, Rhianna and Chelsea

Fancy feet

Dance movies like "You Got Served" and "Step Up" are Alex's guilty pleasures.

Favorite

NYC park

Alex loves Madison Square Park for the "Shake Shack and mediocre musicians."

Green thumb

Alex attempted to plant mint in his apartment.

Alex will be hooked up by OkCupid's Crazy Blind Date app. Who do you think is his best match?

Jax, 26

Graphic designer

She is: adventurous. "I like to take weird trips and be spontaneous," says Jax.

She wants: some scruff on the face. "Physically, I'm a huge fan of beards on guys," she says.

Celeb lookalike: Aubrey Plaza

Favorite TV Show: "Arrested Development"

Undressed: Jax prefers jeans instead of dresses.

Whodunit: Mystery novels are her favorite reads.

Guilty pleasure: Salt. "If I could wear a salt lick, I would."

Rhianna, 23

Stylist

She is:  always up for a fun party. "If the music is good, I can dance my ass off until the place closes," says Rhianna.

She wants: a take-charge man. "I'm indecisive, so a guy who can take the lead is great," Rhianna says.

Pet peeve: People who text "LOL" and "OMG"

Cow girl: Rhianna has a thing for leather, but says, "Don't let your mind wander too far on that one."

Favorite movie: "Breakfast at Tiffany's"

Ice cream of choice: butter pecan and pistachio

Chelsea, 26

Television executive

She is: a workaholic. "Work always comes first, but I definitely have a party side to me," says Chelsea.

She wants: a witty guy.

"I need him to be able to exercise some snark," Chelsea says.

Curl up: Chelsea's hair always gets her a lot of attention.

Celebrity crush: Jason Bateman

Bar order: Colorfully named beers like Blue Moon or Purple Haze

Hot dog: Gray's Papaya on the Upper West Side is one of Chelsea's favorite places to grab a bite.

Who should Alex date?

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Top 5: ways to find love over a lobster roll

"Pass him a note that says, 'I have a crustacean on you!' " — Lynise

"Tell her how cute she looks in her lobster bib." — Daniel

"Say, 'I'm just like a lobster — hard to crack, really expensive and totally worth it.' " — Katy

"Wink and say, 'Looks like we're both on a roll tonight!' " — Jackie

"Ask, 'This could be the last lobster roll of summer — want to split it?' " — Mark

Getty Images

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Getting handsy

The way two people greet each other on a first date can say a lot about the direction things are headed. For instance, when Dave, 25, met Sam, 24, at the Greenwich Project for dinner and drinks, the two extended hands for a polite shake, only to have it turn into a move more commonly used during sports games. Did the platonic gesture keep things cool — or did it lead to future hand-holding between the pair?

He said:

When Sam and I met, we greeted with an awkward handshake and high-five. It was funny — in a good way — and let me know we were off to a good start. Sam was also very cute. She has a tattoo of stripes on the inside of her left

Tamara Beckwith

bicep. I typically don't like tattoos, but I like hers.

We began talking and didn't look at the menu for nearly an hour. We are both Jewish but not religious, and admitted to each other that we can be judgmental.

To eat, we shared fresh polenta, beets and a deep-fried whole egg. For dessert, beignets with caramel and whipped peanut butter, which was outstanding.

Sam came across as confident, attractive and smart. We

exchanged numbers and gave each other a hug goodbye. I would like to see her again.

She said:

My first impression of Dave was positive: He had a kind smile and was on time! We had a mix-up on the handshake but ameliorated it with a high-five.

We talked for three hours nonstop about everything. We both took turns inventing hyperbolic ways to describe a simple glass of wine.

Greenwich Project is an excellent spot for drinks and cocktails. Order the doughnuts!

Dave's an incisive conversationalist. I talk a lot, so I appreciate when someone can keep up with my chattiness. I told Dave he sounded like George Costanza — he swore that he took it as a compliment.

Although Dave and I swapped numbers and I enjoyed the intellectual ping-pong, unfortunately I don't see a romantic future.

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Boring people need not apply

That time you went on a date with someone you thought was boring? It wasn't you. You weren't having a bad night. You weren't tired. They truly were boring.

You should have used Loveflutter, the new dating site that only admits "interesting" singles and aims to "match you with awesome people who share the same interests."

It seems a lot of fascinating people have suffered dull dates. Since launching in the spring, Loveflutter has more than 2,000 members, evenly split between New York and London.

The catch? You have to pass a 10-question quiz just to sign up.

Getty Images

Each answer gives you a different score: 3 points for most interesting; 1 point for least interesting — and if you score below 65 percent, you'll be turned away. (Potential users can game the system by retaking the test, as often as they'd like, with more "interesting" answers to questions, which include number of books read.)

"It may be an easier test for New Yorkers," says Daigo Smith, the site's founder. "They go to a lot of music gigs and other cultural events."

We already knew New Yorkers were naturally more intriguing. But what does "being interesting" mean?

The creators turned to Dr. Simon Moore of the British Psychological Society to help create the test. He says four traits, including risk-taking and curiosity, make up a captivating personality: "Being interesting is about life experience. You can say, 'Last weekend, I bungee jumped.' "

The site suggests dates based on members who have similar tastes in books, movies and TV shows. "Common interests are a natural icebreaker," says Jo Hemmings, Loveflutter's relationship expert. Try the test yourself:

1. How many times have you traveled outside of your own country in the last six months?

a. 3 or more

b. Once or twice

c. Never

2. Have you completed or would you consider a bungee or parachute jump?

a. No

b. Maybe

c. Yes

3. If you were in a band (and could sing and play guitar), which role would you take?

a. Lead singer

b. Guitarist

c. Backing vocalist

4. For your most recent status update or tweet, how many people liked, commented or retweeted it?

a. None

b. 1 or 2

c. 3 or more

5. Would you go to the cinema alone to watch a movie?

a. Yes

b. Maybe

c. No

6. How many books have you read in the last six months?

a. 3 or more

b. 1 or 2

c. None

7. How many music gigs have you been to in the last six months?

a. None

b. 1 or 2

c. 3 or more

8. After a hard day at work, what would you rather watch on TV?

a. Documentary

b. Comedy series

c. Reality show

9. How many different sports have you played in the last six months?

a. None

b. 1 or 2

c. 3 or more

10. How many languages can you speak?

a. 3 or more

b. 2

c. 1 (but very well)

Go to loveflutter.com to see your score.

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Giving bad guys a chance: A vote against safety

The Issue: The City Council's vote to override Mayor Bloomberg's vetoes of two bills that will restrict policing.

***

It seems the death knell has been sounded for my hometown of New York City: The City Council has overridden Mayor Bloomberg's vetoes of two bills hindering stop-and-frisk ("Big Bad Bill," Editorial, Aug. 23).

The crime rate and death rate will definitely rise, and the blood will be on the hands of pandering politicians.

The city will plummet into an abyss worse than during David Dinkins' administration.

It won't be long before the business community abandons the city for greener and safer pastures. There goes the tax base, and the great New York City we all know will soon mirror Detroit.

City Council Members Jumaane Williams (l.) and Christine Quinn before overriding the mayor's veto.Getty

Who are these left-wing ideologues going to blame then?

Walter Murray

Clearwater, Fla.

The City Council and mayoral hopefuls have shot themselves in the foot by overriding the mayor's vetoes. Every thug and gangmember is loving this decision.

I don't understand why Councilman Jumaane Williams is happy, because he represents areas of Brooklyn that have histories of violent crime. Good luck to him and his constituents.

Joseph Cavaliere

Valley Stream

A little common sense and an ounce of brains — something the Democrats lack — would show you stop-and-frisk works.

Ultimately, this program was saving minority lives.

Let's be honest: Where are these crimes being committed? Who is getting killed?

When the murder rate and every other violent crime skyrockets, the people who opposed stop-and-frisk are going to be asking: "Why isn't anyone doing anything?"

Rudy Giuliani and Mike Bloomberg have done a great job reducing crime during their terms in office.

I don't agree with a lot of things Bloomberg has done, but this was spot-on.

I've lived in this city my whole life and have seen how bad it was. Democrats either have short memories, or they actually liked the way the city was run under Dinkins.

Welcome to New York City, where you can't protect yourself, but you have a good shot at being a victim. This message has been brought to you by the mayoral candidates.

Stewart Lara

Manhattan

Well it is over — the only thing the decent people of this city had left was the protection from the greatest police department in the world.

My heart goes out to all of the officers and detectives who are on the front lines protecting us.

What I would suggest is that all the union leaders within the police department — the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, Sergeants Benevolent Association, Lieutenants Benevolent Association, and the Captains Endowment Association — hold a closed-door meeting to come up with a plan to protect the men and women who protect all of us every day.

John Colombo

Whitestone

"Hey, City Council members. Thank you for overriding the mayor's veto on stop-and-frisk," the gangs say.

The next time someone you love gets mugged and the perpetrator runs away, God help you in getting your possessions back.

There will be no help from the cops. They will be protecting the mortgages on their houses when they turn the corner and look away from the suspect.

I spent many years as an active cop in NYC, including Washington Square Park at the height of the drug days.

If I were there today with the City Council's vote, the drugs would still be there.

Robert McKenna

Staten Island

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Blurred Lines

"We have been very clear to the Assad regime, but also to other players on the ground, that a red line for us is, we start seeing a whole bunch of weapons moving around or being utilized. That would change my calculus. That would change my equation." —President Obama on Aug. 20, 2012, warning Syria there would be consequences for using chemical weapons

"Well, this latest event is something that we've got to take a look at."

— Obama yesterday, in response to a CNN interviewer who asked the president in the wake of Syria's second use of chemical weapons: "You don't believe we've seen enough [to take action]?"

Have an opinion on this Post editorial? Send it in to LETTERS@NYPOST.COM!

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King 50 years on

Today tens of thousands of Americans gather on the National Mall to kick off the 50th anniversary celebrations of one of the most transformative events in America's history: The March on Washington.

The actual anniversary is next Wednesday, and at the original march there was a long line of speakers. But a half century later, the only words remembered are the ones uttered by a Baptist preacher named Martin Luther King Jr.

King knew firsthand how bad things were for his fellow African-Americans in those days. But what lifts his words is more than his cadence: It is his confidence that America had within herself to do better, and to bring us to the day when his four children would "not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

AP

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at the march.

So King challenged America, and he challenged America directly. But he challenged America on her own terms, calling our founding documents a "promissory note" on which the nation had still to deliver. This was not a man willing to settle. As The Post noted in these columns at the time, the March on Washington had "assumed the dimensions of a contemporary crusade" and sent "a living message to Congress."

There's no denying the progress that has been made since 1963 — beginning with the fact that a black man is now president of the United States, something King himself likely never expected to see. As President Obama said this week: "Obviously we've made enormous strides. I'm a testament to it."

King would be pleased, but we doubt he'd be content to leave it at that. As he told those marchers: "We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and the Negro in New York has nothing for which to vote." In other words, civil rights was not exclusively a Southern issue.

Today, blacks are not dispatched to separate water fountains or segregated lunch counters. But as the president says, we still have a ways to go. When we look at the high unemployment rates for African-Americans in our city, for example, or the way our public schools are failing our African-American children, we know the civil-rights challenges are real and continuing.

Fifty years after King's dream, we should also have learned that none of these challenges are beyond the ability of an America serious about resolving them.

Have an opinion on this Post editorial? Send it in to LETTERS@NYPOST.COM!

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Major Jihad

It's not really news that Nidal Malik Hasan has been convicted in the 2009 Fort Hood shootings that left 13 dead and 31 injured. After all, many saw him do it, and on the first day of trial Hasan himself said the evidence would show him to be the shooter.

Now a military jury will consider whether he should receive the death penalty. If they so decide, they would have to do so unanimously, and it would still require President Obama's sign-off.

We share America's relief that the trial is over. We also share America's irritation at the outrages it raised.

AP

Courtroom sketch of Nidal Malik Hasan.

From the start, Hasan has exposed troubling things about our Army and our government. Begin with this: Before he went on his rampage, federal authorities had seen his Internet postings on suicide bombings and had intercepted more than a dozen e-mails he'd sent to Anwar al-Awlaki, the radical American-born imam based in Yemen. In them, Hasan asked whether killing US soldiers would be considered an act of jihad. When he was investigated, the conclusion was that these e-mails constituted "professional research."

He then told fellow soldiers Muslims would be justified in killing US troops. Instead of being reported, he was promoted.

Even after the killings and his arrest, Hasan played the system. First, he prevented the Army from forcibly shaving him, even though military regulations forbid beards. Later he would succeed in getting the judge who initially ruled against him tossed from the case for supposed bias.

But the greatest shame of the Fort Hood massacre — the worst mass shooting on a US military installation — is what our government calls it: "workplace violence." Not only is this inaccurate, it means victims and their families are not eligible for special compensation that provides disability pay and a higher level of medical benefits.

The fact is, this case has been plagued from the beginning by a lack of honesty. Now that the trial is over, let's hope our government can at least call the Fort Hood attack by its rightful name: terrorism.

Have an opinion on this Post editorial? Send it in to LETTERS@NYPOST.COM!

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On the case

It's interesting to see how Dick Wolf handles real crime stories, having made a very nice living vis a vis his "ripped-from-the-headlines" "Law & Order" franchise.

After watching TNT's upcoming series, "Cold Justice" — premiering Sept. 3 — it looks like he's done nicely, thank you very much.

Wolf is the executive producer of "Cold Justice," TNT's first foray into the reality genre. His fingerprints are all over the show, in which two women — an ex-Texas prosecutor (Kelly Siegler) who went 68-0 in murder convictions, and a former Las Vegas CSI (Yolanda McClary) who worked more than 7,000 cases — traverse the country, re-opening unsolved murder cases (of which there are over 200,000 still on the books).

AT A GLANCE: Yolanda McClary (left) and Kelly Siegler look for answers on TNT's "Cold Justice."

In the opener, they travel to the small town of Cuero, Texas. There, local law enforcement officials need Siegler and McClary's help in re-opening an 11-year-old case — trying to prove that a sleazebag named Ronnie Hendrick killed his live-in girlfriend, Pam Shelly, by shooting her in the head, point-blank, in front of her kids.

He claims it was suicide, and was never arrested or charged in her death.

Siegler and McClary — who are all business — and don't play to the cameras in a "please make me a TV star" sort of way — ask for all the evidence and, with veteran homicide detective Johnny Bonds, travel to the crime scene and stage a re-enactment, aided by Pam Shelly's now-23-year-old daughter, Kayla. She witnessed the shooting back in 2001 and always insisted Hendrick killed her mom in cold blood after they argued (which they did frequently, she says).

The case isn't as cut-and-dried as you might think — "DNA is not always the answer in a cold case. In reality it's always about circumstantial evidence," Siegler says — and that gives "Cold Justice" a cinema verite-type of feel, with the Hendrick/Shelly case's ultimate outcome in question.

The hour-long series moves briskly enough, and Siegler and McClary obviously know their stuff. At least early on, they seem to have good chemistry (for what's shown on the TV screen) and they both obviously empathize with Kayla.

The lack of cheesy re-enactments is a plus here — as is a jailhouse interview with Hendrick (who's been locked up for a separate crime).

Check this one out.

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Hepatitis A scare at Upper West Side market

The Health Department is urging customers of an Upper West Side gourmet market to get a hepatitis A vaccination after the store learned one of its employees contracted the virus.

Health officials said last night that customers who ate chopped, ready-to-eat fruit at the Westside Market on Broadway between 97th and 98th streets should get the vaccine as a precautionary measure.

A spokesman for the eatery said last night that the employee worked in the produce department and his contact with the food was "probably minimal" but the store was "not taking any chances."

"The 97th Street location has undertaken every step necessary in response to a potential health issue that was brought to our attention today," the store's spokesman said. "The market is open and will continue providing quality foods."

The Health Department will offer free hepatitis A vaccinations at MS 258 at 154 West 93rd St. starting Friday from 2 to 8 p.m.

The eatery said there are no reports of customers contracting hepatitis A.

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Drama mama

Your weekly guide to TV's best and worst one-hour shows.

Mama checks in with three dramas that prove great TV can hide amid the usual late-summer mediocrity. The good news is you still have time to catch up:

"The White Queen" (Saturday, 9 p.m., Starz)

When this 10-episode series premiered, Mama feared for the worst as it took us day by day through the courtship of Elizabeth (Rebecca Ferguson) and King Edward (Max Irons). But like kids who suddenly realize they have to write a 500-word book report and they spent half of their word count on the introductions, the series sped through episode two's action at lightning speed: Elizabeth's coronation, the birth of a baby girl and the overthrow of Edward left the regal Elizabeth with barely enough time to adjust her crown before she was fighting for it. The speed fits them well, as spending too much time on political machinations is typically what drags down these period dramas. Not this one: Jump on board now if you want to enjoy a quick history lesson.

DIANE KRUGER

"The Bridge"(Wednesday, 10 p.m., FX)

Spoiler alert if you didn't watch last night's episode: The team kinda, sorta got their man — except in the new normal for detective dramas, he's working for someone else — but not before he shot Sonya (Diane Kruger) right in the bullet-proof vest she was obviously wearing. Now that the show has backed off of relying on Sonya's Asperger syndrome and learned how to make her simply weird, she fits in much better with this interesting group of characters, who don't need a disease to make each of them a little unwell.

"Broadchurch"(Wednesday, 10 p.m., BBC America)

Last week's boat fire was just the latest disruption to this English community, whose small-town ethics — and gossiping — has made the murder of a young boy that much more of an intimate experience for us as viewers. Even if everyone is a suspect, it feels icky to suspect our neighbors, although outsider Hardy (David Tennant) hasn't made it easy on them.

"American Horror Story: Asylum"(Friday, 10 p.m., FX)

Here's your chance to catch up with this creeptastic horror series. The first half airs Friday, starting at 10 p.m., with the back half of the season starting Saturday at 11 p.m. — the perfect time to scare yourself silly. If there isn't enough room on your DVR , at least record episode 10 so you can enjoy the fantastic Jessica Lange perform Sister Jude's hallucination-induced "The Name Game."

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Outage pits SEC against exchanges

Get out the asbestos suit again, Bob Greifeld.

The Nasdaq CEO once again is going to find himself in the cross hairs of Wall Street regulatory enforcers seeking answers to how one of the world's largest exchanges could go dark for three hours.

After all, the ink is barely dry on the $10 million check Nasdaq forked over to regulators after the exchange botched Facebook's 2012 IPO.

It was the Facebook debacle that sparked the Security and Exchange Commission to enact tougher regulations to standardize technology across trading platforms.

SEC boss Mary Jo White last night called the outage "serious" and sought a meeting with the more than one dozen exchange heads to discuss trading issues.

It's not clear when the meeting will be held.

The Nasdaq meltdown was so severe that President Obama was briefed on the outage.

But it's likely that the 56-year-old Greifeld, who has been with Nasdaq for 10 years, will get more attention than other exchange bosses.

That said, traders and other market watchers, who spoke to The Post said they were happy with the exchange's handling of the glitch.

"We can live without the market up for a couple of hours; we can't live with the market's printing bad prices," said Jim Angel, professor of finance at Georgetown University.

mark.decambre@nypost.com

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Chris Paul elected president of NBA players union

The makeover of the National Basketball Players Association continued Wednesday evening with the announcement of Chris Paul being named as the group's president.

Paul replaces Derek Fisher, who along with previous executive director Billy Hunter led the union through the previous lockout and also left it in turmoil as Hunter has sued both the union and Fisher after he was fired by the union back in February.

He also becomes the first star player to run the union since Patrick Ewing's tenure as union president expired in 2001.

"I have a lot of experience, just being around knowing what's going on," said Paul, who has been a player representative since his rookie year before becoming a member of the executive committee four years ago. "It's not about the president or the first vice president or about any one person, it's about the players as a whole and as a body. That's what it has been about the past two days, in what we can do moving forward to grow the game and build the game."

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Chris Paul is the first star player to lead the National Basketball Players Association since Patrick Ewing in 2001.

Paul was elected at the end of two days of meetings in Las Vegas for the union. His election came as a bit of a surprise, given that the only name that had surfaced in recent days publicly for the job was that of veteran free agent Roger Mason, Jr., who was elected first vice president Wednesday.

The only other player to publicly consider running for the job was Paul's close friend LeBron James, who eventually decided the time constraints would be too great for him to devote the time and attention he would need to the position.

"I've been thinking about it for awhile," said Paul, who added he had talked to Mason before running. "I've had a lot of dialogue about it with [the executive] committee members. I wouldn't have taken this job on if it was me doing it alone."

The union also announced that Lakers guard Steve Blake and Bobcats forward Anthony Tolliver were voted to the executive committee to replace the spots vacated by Paul and Mason when they ascended to president and first vice president, respectively. The other players on the executive committee are Heat forward James Jones, Warriors guard Stephen Curry and forward Andre Iguodala, Spurs forward Matt Bonner and Clippers guard Willie Green.

In addition, Jerry Stackhouse stepped down from the first vice president position he'd been elected to in February at the union's meeting during All-Star Weekend, but is expected to take a job in an advisory position within the union.

The next step for the union is naming an executive director to succeed Hunter, something that both Paul and Stackhouse said on the call that the group was in "no rush" to do. It is expected, however, that the union would like to have their choice made in time to be ratified at the union meeting during All-Star Weekend in New Orleans next February.

In between now and then, Paul said he wants to try to get more involvement from players around the league.

"One of top priorities is to get as much involvement as possible from our players," he said. "That's what it was supposed to be about from the beginning, and that's what it's about going forward."

tbontemps@nypost.com

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Bud’s not so bad

We are disappointed that The Post's "Budweiser Drinkers Most Likely To End Up in Emergency Room," did not take a more critical look at the validity of the study that was featured (Aug. 21).

This study was limited to only 105 patients at one hospital in a specific neighborhood in Baltimore. The study's director even acknowledged that no conclusions could be made about beer or malt-liquor advertising, pricing or consumption, since the scope of the study was too small. The reporter should have noted that a broader study may generate different results.

That said, we would never condone the misuse of our products, and have a long history of industry leadership when it comes to promoting responsible drinking.

In the past 30 years, our company and our wholesalers have invested more than $980 million in advertising campaigns and community-based programs to promote responsible drinking and prevent underage drinking and drunken driving.

We have strong partnerships among the industry, government, higher education and others to reduce alcohol misuse and will continue to work to be part of the solution.Kathy Casso

Vice President

Corporate Social

Responsibility

Anheuser-Busch

St. Louis, Mo.

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Benefits packages soaring: Why should we even work?

The Issue: A study showing that a mother of two in New York can receive $38,004 in welfare benefits.

***

I see more bang from my taxes going to local families via welfare than to corporate offices or state and federal politicians ("When Welfare Pays Better Than Work," Michael Tanner, PostOpinion, Aug. 19).

The families receiving housing subsides pay the property taxes deducted by landlords. Food-stamp programs benefit the locally owned grocery stores. School-lunch menus support the local agricultural business.

Benefits packages paid to the highest-salaried citizens in my area could go to zero-tax accounts or out-of-state recreation — or deductible "business" activities that are actually individual and family travel.

A week of groceries purchased with food stamps.AP

If what Tanner says is true about welfare being too generous, then what do you call the benefits we give to the rich and trust-fund babies?

J. Marie Gates

Meridian, Idaho

Tanner says a working mother needs to earn $21 per hour to reach the same level of total benefits of a nonworking mother. I wonder if this math is accurate, since the working mother might qualify for public-assistance programs for her household and children, and might receive benefits from her employer. I also wonder how much she might pay in taxes, with her dependents and other deductions.

The welfare system can provide specific disincentives to seek earned income, but I'm not sure those numbers tell the whole story.

Peter Grigorakakis

Manchester, NH

Welfare reforms should relax cut-off points, so a mother would not lose all welfare benefits if her wage exceeds an "unrealistically low" income. It seems the cut-off is designed to keep her on welfare instead of providing a "leg up." If she is going to lose benefits, she'll stay on welfare.

Don Campbell

Buhl, Idaho

Tanner should live on the $38,000 aggregate of subsidies he seems to think the average, unmarried mother of two receives in New York City. When he realizes there is no money left for a $12 martini — or whatever mixed drink slides him into his delusion — or the educational system is stacked against his children getting a fair shake, he would also realize that his words are untrue and harmful. Roderick Wells

Brooklyn

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