Letters

The new threat in Afghanistan shows what many experts tried to bring home to President Bush just after the overthrow of the Taliban regime: the Taliban fighters who weren't killed or captured did not disappear forever. Some fled to neighboring Pakistan, but most simply hid in Afghanistan. Now they are lining up and threatening to bring down the weak government of President Hamid Karzai.
MARKUS SCHMIED
Ebensee, Austria

The U.S. Sends Out an Sos
Charles Krauthammer strongly suggested to America's allies that they should be helping out in Iraq [ESSAY, Sept. 1]. And now we have the Bush Administration calling upon the U.N. to help restore order in Iraq. But the usual arrogance of the U.S. is still evident in its unwillingness to relinquish any control of the occupation forces. I consider the U.S. quite capable of dealing with the Iraq situation without U.N. help. Instead, I would expect the U.S. to call upon the U.N. to commit troops to Liberia. Is the plight of the Iraqi people worse than that of the Liberian people?
STEPHEN TWINOBURYO
Pretoria

The spectacle of cowboy George Bush eating crow may soften the heart of old Europe. Perhaps the French embassy in Washington will send over a bucket of freedom fries to go with the bird.
ROBERT LINDERHOLM
Cambridge, England

The Bush Administration appears to be convinced that it would be disastrous for re-election purposes to hand over Iraq lock, stock and barrel to the U.N. But the U.S. has shown that it has a superior ability to get rid of nasty dictators. So now why not let the international community finish the job? Do Americans really want U.S. troops to stay in Iraq?
LENNART DAHLBECK
Stockholm

Excessive Compensation?
I was not surprised to read in "Big Board, Big Payday" that New York Stock Exchange chairman Dick Grasso will receive $140 million in deferred pay and retirement benefits [NATION, Sept. 8]. There is something wrong when CEOs, board members and upper-level corporate managers get millions in pay and benefits while lower-level managers and rank-and-file employees are laid off or asked to give back pay and benefits for the "good of the company." Why are executives getting these outrageous benefits? Because those who decide on the compensation are CEOs, board members and upper-level managers. When is the American public going to wake up? Every employee's job should be important. When a business is failing, everyone should feel the pain, and when it profits, everyone should share the wealth.
WAYNE G. GHERKE
Charleston, W.Va.

Madonna Rules
I was upset by the crass comments about Madonna in your item on her kissing Britney Spears at the MTV Video Music Awards [PEOPLE, Sept. 8]. You said, "You can make two uninteresting women a lot more interesting by having them give each other an open-mouthed kiss." Not only is Madonna today's most interesting American woman, but she is also the only relevant U.S. artist in years. Her last album, American Life, was great. When you have the chance to write about such a world-class artist, you should praise her because the U.S. is increasingly hated everywhere.
DIDIER NICLAES
Brussels