Letters: May 12, 2003

Tyranny Tumbles

For Saddam Hussein, whose image has permeated Iraq, the most fitting end should be not only ignominy but also anonymity [COVER STORY, April 21]. Shouldn't we give Saddam the invisibility he deserves? The world should never again have to see a picture of this megalomaniac or hear a word about him. MELISSA A. BLAIR Tucson, Ariz.

It is no surprise that the most powerful military force in history has defeated Iraq. But what have we won? If this war was about making Iraqis safe, we have a long way to go. If it was about bringing democracy to Iraq, we haven't even begun. If it was about reducing the threat of terrorism, we've inflamed resentment in much of the Arab world. And if it was about bringing the world together to address terrorist threats to U.S. security, we've clearly failed. If the war was about removing Saddam from power--and nothing else--then yes, recent events signal victory. But it is too soon to claim success on any other ground. KAT HANKINSON New York City

The troops are heroes. Saddam has fallen. But one lingering question remains: Do you really feel any safer now that he is gone? The Muslim extremists who had everything to do with 9/11 are still on the loose. Osama bin Laden is free as a bird, and all the American p.r. in the world won't be able to stop al-Qaeda from future terrorist activities. RON LOWE Nevada City, Calif.

In adopting the doctrine of "I thought he might hit me, so I hit him first," the U.S. has sacrificed 60 years of diplomacy and the U.N. Charter. For this, we have become a global pariah. In exchange for thousands of lives and billions of dollars, we will indeed have a Pax Americana--and lose the world. ANDREW CHRISTIE North Hollywood, Calif.

Predictors of doom said Saddam would set oil wells on fire, causing an environmental disaster, and that his Republican Guard would cause our troops horrendous problems. Mostly wrong! They said Saddam would use chemical or biological weapons, killing tens of thousands. Wrong! They said Saddam would launch Scud missiles into Israel. Wrong! They said that even though most Iraqis might not like Saddam, they'd fiercely fight foreign infidel invaders. Well, look at all of those smiling, waving, cheering Iraqis. CAROL JARRARD Augusta, Ga.

If U.S. troops stay in Iraq, even for the shortest of postwar periods, Americans will be perceived by the world as empire builders, and our actions in Iraq may spawn a thousand Osama bin Ladens who will visit devastation upon our land. If we leave Iraq, it will splinter into a thousand mini-kingdoms of quarreling power grabbers who may ignite a larger war. We can't go, and we can't stay. BOB KETLER Bethlehem, Conn.

--Many readers reacted to our cover showing a red X crossing out Saddam, which echoed our 1945 X-ed-out cover image of Hitler, by asking, Why? "As horrifying as Saddam's regime was," commented a New Yorker, "this war was not the heroic struggle that was engaged in to defeat Hitler in World War II." A Tokyo reader agreed, saying, "To equate the fall of Saddam with that of Hitler is an insult to the millions slaughtered by the Nazis." But one Canadian put it in vivid sports terms: "Comparing Hussein with Hitler is like comparing a minor-league hockey player with the all-time great Wayne Gretzky."

Leading or Following?