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Who says America should run the world? Krauthammer's essay was patronizing. As a Briton, I am ashamed of my country for its support of the Iraqi invasion, and if it were possible, I would declare myself French, German, Chinese or Russian right this minute. It is patently obvious that the U.S. would not have invaded Iraq if that country had no oil. The U.S. defended Kuwait only to protect its oil. It is not France that is defying the will of the world; a majority of nations oppose the war in Iraq. It is America, Spain and, to my great shame, Britain that are on a course to destroy the U.N. and NATO.
DAVID HOGG
Paisley, Scotland

Krauthammer claimed that the U.S. Is the world's dominant nation "in every field of endeavor — economic, military, diplomatic, cultural, even linguistic." Let me express some doubts about American culture. When the "axis of evil" is crushed, what sort of culture does Bush plan to give to liberated Iraqis: The Osbournes, Die Hard and American Pie?
ERIC CUGLIO
Marseilles, France

I found the essay by Krauthammer shameful, ignorant and offensive. I have never seen a country so vilified for wanting peace as France has been! As for business dealings with Iraq, France is not the only country that is culpable. But unlike the U.S., it has the courage to admit it. During the Iran-Iraq war, many Western democracies, including the U.S., did business with Iraq. France, Canada and Germany all have a right to disagree with America, just as the U.S. may disagree with them.
PHILIP JEDLICKA
Toronto

The Wrong Signal

Where were the antiwar demonstrators [DISSENT, March 31] when thousands of innocent people were killed in the World Trade Center and in the Bali bombings? How different is crashing a commercial plane into a building from firing a Tomahawk missile? Until antiwar protesters condemn all terrorist acts the same way they are now attacking George Bush and Tony Blair, these so-called peace activists are sending terrorists the wrong signal.
CLARIBEL DAVID
Quezon City, the Philippines

All around the world, shouting antiwar demonstrators fail to see the necessity of America's actions in Iraq. Al-though I am too young to have experienced World War II, I am old enough to be grateful that the Allied forces allowed me to be born into freedom in the Netherlands. At times like these, I feel ashamed of being Dutch.

Granted, absolute, sole superpowerdom does not automatically entitle the U.S. to be blindly followed by the rest of the world. But its action is a sheer necessity, its stance a demonstration of courage in the face of widespread European hypocrisy. The war puts the people of Iraq at risk, but they have been at risk for years at the hands of one of the world's cruelest dictators.
PETER DE VLAAM
Sliedrecht, the Netherlands

Free at Last

I am outraged that some people think that Utah teen Elizabeth Smart somehow adapted to being held captive by her abductors [SOCIETY, March 24]. It is obvious that Smart was intimidated into silence. To suggest that she eventually settled into her life with her kidnappers and had no desire to leave them is akin to blaming the victim.
CLAUDETTE POWELL
Los Angeles

All the World's a Court

Re "The NBA's Global Game Plan" [BUSINESS, MARCH 17]: The growing number of foreign players in America's National Basketball Association adds a special flavor to the games. The greatest thing about the globalization of the NBA is that the players get along well as they compete in the game they all love. It doesn't matter where they come from, what language they speak, what color skin they have; they play hard, enjoy themselves and entertain the fans. The NBA has a lot to teach the world.
TAKAHITO HIGUCHI
Yokkaichi, Japan