A Political and Military Mess President Boris Yeltsin is sufficiently sophisticated to realize that his political survival is at stake as a result of actions in Chechnya [Jan. 16]. But it would be harmful for us to cynically view his motivation as solely political. He knows that instability in Russia alienates investors outside the country, and that support and aid from the West and the International Monetary Fund are all at grave risk. Accordingly, it is highly doubtful Yeltsin would think he could boost his political popularity by using force to suppress secession in Chechnya. To the point: separatism in Russia is infectious! Can anyone seriously entertain the scenario that if Yeltsin resigns, his immediate successor might consent to internationally supervised free elections, however worthy, in Chechnya? Elliott A. Cohen New York City Last year Boris Yeltsin threatened the West with a ``cold peace'' if NATO extended its membership eastward toward Russia. Well, Yeltsin's cold peace has already begun in Chechnya. Paul Etxeberri Reno, Nevada Again, as so often before, Russia has proved that it is in fact an ``evil empire.'' It is committing genocide in Chechnya. What's next? Estonia? Ukraine? When will the leaders of the free world realize the dangers of playing with the bear? Jonas Kjellberg Alingsas, Sweden While the situation in Chechnya is devastating and deplorable, it should come as no surprise. A look at any relief map will show that Chechnya holds the gateway through the Caucasus Mountains into the Russian heartland. Once past Grozny, it's a flat, fast tank ride to Moscow. The Russian military planners will never give up both the southern gateways of Georgia and Azerbaijan and the northern gateways of Chechnya, which would effectively relinquish control of the natural barrier the Caucasus Mountains afford. While public opinion rises against Yeltsin, the Russian military machine's influence is still alive and well. Unlike that in Western Europe or the U.S., Russian public opinion cannot swing the government without the blessing of the Russian military. Paul van Hoesen Gorinchem, the Netherlands There is a widespread feeling of relief among Ukrainians at not having to contribute to Moscow's belligerency. Far too often in the past, Ukraine has had to tag along with what Russia has claimed to be a legal defense of conditions--brought about through coercion and held together by threat and surreptitious russification. One thing is clear: it is better to live in a quiet house than in an unsafe apartment block. Michael Wolynskyj Madrid If Yeltsin has gone too far, there is a likelihood that the President will lose his position to an opposition group, a more thoughtful and reliable choice for democratic Russia. But what if Yeltsin continues his strong line, breaking laws and violating human rights without any fear of legal reprisals? That would mean the worst possible kind of scenario: a return to a totalitarian regime. Robert Niczewski Warsaw The myth about the strength of the Soviet military was carefully nurtured by the West in order to build up its own military-industrial might. The debacle the Russians suffered at the hands of the Chechens has brought this lie to the fore. Jaffer Khoonjee Jidda, Saudi Arabia Yeltsin and his gang of war psychotics are reviving Stalin's era of mass genocides and forced relocation. The Chechnya invasion will certainly provoke more revolts by local and neighboring armies while inflating military spending for many years to come. As the world observes Russia's self-destruction, we can only hope that the present regime will eventually disintegrate before it's too late. Perhaps only then can democracy arise and be born again. John G. Woods Helsingborg, Sweden

Use an Iron Fist Ending the inhumane disaster of the Air France hijacking by Algerian terrorists [Jan. 9] took courage, insight and determination by French authorities. The Armed Islamic Group is barbaric and savage; its way of achieving goals is to murder innocent and helpless people. The only way of dealing with such savagery is with an iron fist. We should not surrender an inch of ground. Khalid Al-Moosa London The Algerian imbroglio is like a jigsaw puzzle, difficult to solve. Between the government in Algeria and the militant Islamic Salvation Front there may be no lesser evil. But the most important issue is, Should we watch unconcerned the emergence of what could be another Khomeini in the world's most volatile region? If the answer is no, then it is high time Western powers took more concrete actions to combat the mad dogs who slaughter innocent people. Governments must realize before it is too late that there is another Iran or Iraq lurking around the corner, and that could spell catastrophe for our fragile world. Samuel O. Adenekan Winson Green, England

Alike Under the Skin Your report on the newly published genetic atlas of the world [Jan. 16] states that its conclusions flatten those of The Bell Curve. But The History and Geography of Human Genes is primarily a study of the distribution of human genes and presents a kind of ``global family tree.'' This is far from a study of the distribution of intelligence among human beings, which is the focus of Charles Murray and Richard Herrnstein's book. While there is no doubt that all humans are closely related, desperate attempts to reduce the impact of The Bell Curve [which holds that intelligence is determined by heredity, not environment] are so blatantly irresponsible as to be near to criminal. Robert C. Reynolds Corrales, New Mexico

One need not choose between The Bell Curve and The History and Geography of Human Genes. Both books reach the same conclusion: races are remarkably similar, there being more difference among individuals within a race than among races. Therefore, the policy implications that ought to flow from both books is the same: justice should be color blind. Stop treating each race as if all its members were identical. That, specifically, is the burden of what The Bell Curve's authors ask. Wayne P. Hughes Jr. Pacific Grove, California

To brand The Bell Curve as pseudo science because it contends that there is a relationship between genes and IQ is a violation of political correctness. You state the genetic atlas concludes that there is no scientific basis for the genetic superiority of one population over another because diversity within populations is greater than among them. But this does not necessarily refute The Bell Curve's contentions. It is possible that two diverse populations can still have certain distinct genetic traits. IQ, even if it is a valid measurement, could predict only in the most rudimentary way the ultimate contribution of an individual. The media often do not know the difference between disagreeing with a conclusion and refuting it scientifically. Laurence Charles Sellin Espoo, Finland You are correct in pointing out that genetic differences among the human inhabitants of the earth are surprisingly small. It would be a mistake, however, to dismiss environmental adaptation as irrelevant to human intelligence. The most important organ with which human beings interact with their environment is the brain. Steven Raiguel Leuven, Belgium

Failure of Justice? How can we teach children a moral lesson when our own judicial system seems perverted and backward? While Jesse Jacobs may have been guilty of other crimes, he was not guilty of murdering Etta Ann Urdiales. But the state of Texas went ahead and executed him anyway [Jan. 16]. The Supreme Court needs to remember that not only does it decide issues of law, but it must also do what is right. How can the Justices sleep at night knowing they might be sentencing innocent people to death? Scott Mitcham Sedona, Arizona

I was a member of the jury that found Jesse Jacobs guilty of murder in 1987. I learned only recently that the Texas prosecutors had changed their theory of who was directly responsible for the gunshot that murdered Urdiales. To say that I found that news troubling would be a great understatement. At Jacobs' trial, it required considerable soul-searching before I could confidently vote for the verdict and sentence of death that the jury rendered. The news of Jacobs' execution required me to repeat that process. Yet having now done so, I am again satisfied that Jacobs' verdict and sentence of death were appropriate.

Jacobs was sentenced to death, not because the prosecutor believed he deserved that penalty, but because, in the unanimous opinion of the jury, the evidence produced at Jacobs' trial established his guilt and further established that death was his appropriate punishment under Texas law. I am not aware of what facts may have caused the state prosecutors to change their views when Jacobs' sister went on trial seven months later. What seems to have been lost in this discussion is the fact that juries decide the facts of a case and must render their verdicts based upon the evidence before them at that time. The relevant fact is that Jacobs received the trial he deserved under the law of the U.S. J. Kirk Brown Assistant Attorney General State of Nebraska Lincoln, Nebraska After reading your account of the recent execution of Jacobs, I can only agree with Mr. Bumble in Dickens' Oliver Twist, who maintained, ``The law is a ass, a idiot.'' And the biggest, most unethical asses of all are Texas officials who are more interested in convictions at any price than in justice. Lewis Cetta Florence, Italy