Letters: Nov. 19, 2001

Into the Fray

"Your cover picture of the young commando made me, a World War II veteran, feel very old but very proud and very safe." JOHN H. GARNER Anthony, Fla.

The photograph of the soldier holding a gun was an example of a true American hero [THE WAR, Oct. 29]. The commitment and courage of the men and women who risk their lives to defend the U.S. in combat are a guarantee that our country will remain strong and free. JEANNE JONES JINDRA Gallipolis, Ohio

The leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan and religious fanatics throughout the world need to understand one thing: this war is not the same as Vietnam. Americans' compassion exists side by side with our determination to see this war through to the only possible conclusion: the total defeat of those who seek our destruction. We will not give up, we will not retreat, and we will not be destroyed. ROSALIE CANNONE MCGILL Florham Park, N.J.

I find it difficult to accept the denunciations of the U.S. military action in Afghanistan. It is very easy to condemn the U.S. for killing and maiming civilians during the bombing, but what about the 5,000 who were killed on Sept. 11? Surely the Muslim world realizes that the U.S. will not take the attacks lying down. CHRIS COWLING Humansdorp, South Africa

I was interested in your in-depth coverage of the war. However, I thought it was irresponsible and insensitive of you to portray our troops as "jittery" when they returned to Pakistan after a military mission. Of course they are jittery and scared; I think the American public is well aware of the human response to crisis. But these troops are American heroes. In the future, please just stick to the facts of what our troops are doing. KELLYANNE LITTON Bend, Ore.

Nothing in Moderation

Forget about including "moderate" Taliban members in a new government in Afghanistan [THE WAR, Oct. 29]. As you noted, to many of us the phrase moderate Taliban is oxymoronic. Why put the fox in the hen house? MAGGIE MCHUGH Alexandria, Va.

A Tide of Anxiety

In her article "Homeland Insecurity," Nancy Gibbs implied that the members of the House of Representatives may have evacuated in too much haste after anthrax was found in the mail area of the House side of the Capitol [TERRORISM, Oct. 29]. My fiance writes letters for a Congressman. The evacuation of the House side was an issue not of the bravery of members of Congress but of the safety of everyone. If the occupants of the World Trade Center had been warned of the attacks, would we have blamed them for evacuating the building beforehand? There is reason to believe that the letter sent to Senator Tom Daschle was a warning and an excellent reason to search the entire Capitol compound. The people who work there serve Senators and Representatives. They are not there to give their lives. KATHRYN HENNINGFELD Arlington, Va.

It was a sad spectacle to see members of the House of Representatives running for cover at the first hint of a problem in their own backyard. Their actions were deplorable, and they not only let down those who look to them for leadership; they also gave a victory to our enemies. Shame on them all. BONNIE SCHWEID Omaha, Neb.

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