Letters

Ira

In preparing for war against Saddam Hussein, President Bush should put aside Arab objections and instead start listening to the Iraqi people [WORLD, May 13]. Being an Iraqi American, I know what Iraqis want from Bush: an ironclad pledge that the U.S. is committed to ridding Iraq of Saddam. This is important. In February 1991, Bush's father called on Iraqis to rise up against Saddam. But in their hour of need, America turned away and let Saddam crush the uprising. If President Bush can demonstrate that establishing democracy in Iraq is a priority, then he will have the full backing of the people.
SABAH A. SALIH
Danville, Pa.

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The Sept. 11 attacks made it clear what a small number of terrorists can do with intelligence, money and patience. Anyone who thinks Saddam has less of these things than Osama bin Laden had better think twice. We don't have the luxury of a lot of time before terrorism and genuine evil will be unleashed again. Haven't we finally learned that the consequences of ignoring evil are far worse than unflinchingly confronting and quelling it? Whatever political statements they make, Iraq's neighbors and all other civilized states would breathe a lot easier if Saddam disappeared, no matter how that came about.
HENRY D. CHILDS
Maynard, Mass.

I cannot fathom why the Bush administration telegraphs its plans for action against Saddam. Doing so violates every tenet of secrecy in military operations. Since it is not possible to mask an extensive upcoming ground campaign, we should eliminate well in advance every suspected facility that manufactures chemical, biological or nuclear weapons. In the near future, air strikes should be launched without warning from U.S. bases and carriers in the region. If we wait and conduct an air war just prior to a visible buildup, we will run nightmarish risks.
DON PAUL
Captain, U.S.A. (ret.)
Orchard Park, N.Y.

TIME provided many insights into the despicable nature of Saddam but didn't fully explain why the Bush Administration appears to be hell-bent on engaging in an undeclared, pre-emptive strike against Iraq. The U.S. Constitution requires that the President obtain Congressional approval before going to war. There should be vigorous debate and irrefutable proof before George W. Bush can cause the deaths of thousands of American soldiers and Iraqi citizens.
TERRY SERENA
Cincinnati, Ohio

You have done an excellent job of portraying Saddam as a dangerous archvillain. This is an important message that Americans need to embrace before a war against Iraq can begin. The creation of consent is an important first step in a battle plan. However, TIME should have noted the horrific consequences of the first Gulf War for the Iraqi people. You made predictions about how the next Iraqi invasion will be launched and fought but didn't mention the number of innocent lives that will be claimed. I think this was an alarming oversight.
RICHARD HAMMOND
Los Angeles

I was horrified by the picture of the Iraqi child dressed as a suicide bomber, wearing "TNT" containers around his waist. As shocking as it is, however, I am still undecided about how the culture it represents compares with one in which most people would rather go shopping or watch television than concern themselves with current events. Although I don't agree with suicide bombing, I believe Americans could learn something from the Iraqis: they are passionate about what they believe in.
BRIANNA MARTIN
Eden Prairie, Minn.

The Battle of Jenin

In asking "what really happened?", with regard to the Israeli attack on the Palestinian refugee camp of Jenin [WORLD, May 13], TIME prolonged the troubles that keep peace at bay in the Middle East. What really happened is always open to interpretation. Until both Israelis and Palestinians can forgo the short-term political advantages of conflict, there can be no room for peace negotiations. Militants on both sides will spoil the party. No effort for peace will succeed that involves trying to scrutinize who did what, when and to whom. The failure of peace in the Middle East is the failure of a past continually replayed. Only when both sides can jointly create an image of a future based on shared goals will peace be possible.
LUCINDA JEWELL
Cambridge, Mass.

Sibling Harmony

Margaret Carlson's commentary on Richard Nixon's daughters and their disagreement over their father's library erroneously reported that the Nixon Library tried to remove Tricia Nixon Cox from its board of directors [PUBLIC EYE, May 13]. We have never taken or even contemplated taking such a step.
DONALD L. BENDETTI, Chairman
Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace Foundation
Yorba Linda, Calif.

Jus' Deserts

I have a fantasy about former Enron CEO Ken Lay and his wife, weepy Linda [PEOPLE, May 13]: a group of Enron investors and former employees band together to buy one of the Lays' possessions from Linda's new secondhand store, Jus' Stuff. Then they take it outside and demolish it with axes and hammers — smash it to smithereens! They could recoup their expenses by peddling videotapes and posters of this most satisfying event.
MARY C. WILLIAMS
Raleigh, N.C.