Letters: Dec. 3, 2001

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In her cheerleading piece "Unleash The Pitcher Within!", Margaret Carlson asserted that President Bush's pitch at the World Series game brought great comfort to Americans [PUBLIC EYE, Nov. 12]. It seems Carlson has been taken in by the Administration's spin. I was as comforted by Bush's performance on the pitching mound as I was when I saw the 50%-off sale on gas masks at the local Army-surplus store. Carlson also wrote that Bush's off-the-cuff remarks are more powerful than his prepared speeches. Frankly, I find his casual remarks frightening. I'd feel much better about the President's "pitch" if I knew he was working to understand the real source of the problems in the Middle East. JOE LEWANDOWSKI Fort Collins, Colo.

Bush's first pitch at the world series was billed as an act of defiance against terrorist threats. All it really proved was that spending an extraordinary amount of money on increased security could protect one person. The real acts of defiance are by those who will be part of large crowds attending sporting events each weekend, postal employees who haven't missed a delivery in the face of anthrax infection and the people of New York City who are still going about their business although they were directly affected by the terrorist attacks. ANDREW ANDONIADIS Beaverton, Ore.

As a neighbor to the north, I feel that in light of recent events, the U.S. is very fortunate to have President Bush in office at this time. When he speaks, there is a sense of dignity and honor. From the perspective of someone who lives outside the U.S., I find that the President epitomizes the strength of character needed in a leader in critical times. LORI A. GRIFFIN Elmira, Ont.

Looking at the Big Picture

What happens when the war is over? Will the U.S continue to feed Afghan families? Let's try to resist the urge to revisit the caveman era, when the person with the biggest stick survived. I would be a monster if I didn't feel sorry for the families affected by the Sept. 11 attacks, but bloodshed and attacks on innocent Afghans are not the answer. AYEDE SEVER Lagos, Nigeria

There has been much concern about civilian casualties that resulted from the bombing in Afghanistan. Without wanting to sound as if I lack compassion, I must say that such losses are inevitable, since no one has yet been able to build a bomb intelligent enough to differentiate between a terrorist and a civilian. War is about winning. I see no reason for America to risk its soldiers against an antediluvian enemy who has nothing to lose. ANURAG BAHADUR Hyderabad, India

Is it any wonder that support for the war among the European allies is not as strong as the U.S. might hope? Few of these countries fought for their own freedom in World War II. Is anybody surprised that the two biggest U.S. allies from that conflict, Britain and Russia, have rallied to the U.S. side again? Or that other major participants in that war--China, Turkey, India, Germany and Australia--are all willing to contribute to the U.S. effort? This is because they've all fought before for their beliefs, while less certain countries were content merely to ride the Allies' coattails. ADAM EDWARDS Holte, Denmark