Letters

Al-Qaeda: Alive and Ticking

There should be no doubt that the various fundamentalist Muslim groups responsible for worldwide terrorist acts share the goal of removing Western influence from the Muslim Middle East and Asia [TERRORISM, Oct. 28]. They are a continuing threat to our ideals of democracy and tolerance. Until all these radical groups are eliminated, there will be constant global strife. NELSON MARANS Silver Spring, Md.

Of course al-Qaeda is still active and regaining strength. The U.S. cannot win a war against a globally distributed, impassioned enemy. Our government has committed us to a risky type of counterterrorism that could go on for decades. We will not make progress toward peace until we treat the causes of terrorism, not just the symptoms, as we are doing now. We are merely giving terrorists more reasons to attack us. Someday, if we are lucky, U.S. citizens will take steps to reject the government's shortsighted, arrogant approach and demand changes in our foreign policy. RICK MAROLT Madison, Wis.

When will Bush & co. understand the truth of the saying If you want peace, work for justice? The most dangerous people are those who are disenfranchised and have nothing to lose. LARS PARDO Seattle

We should not be surprised that the terrorists are regrouping. We must, without delay, launch long-term preventive actions while continuing to fight pockets of terrorism wherever they exist. Terrorism stems from ignorance, and the best way to eradicate it is through education and economic viability. We must help the people of the Third World stand on their own. Corrupt Third World rulers should be arrested and tried as international criminals. Let us give new meaning to the concept of pre-emptive strikes. SIDDIQUE MALIK Louisville, Ky.

If Osama bin Laden or his second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahiri, were alive and in hiding, wouldn't they be making videotaped statements that refer to recent events for broadcast on the Arab TV station al-Jazeera? The audiotapes and obviously old videotapes that have been released are unimpressive. PASQUALE J. PIACENTE Newington, Conn.

Yes, we can ask ourselves if the Indonesian government has the nerve to crack down on Islamic militants, but I want to know if that government has the wisdom and patience to understand the conditions that motivate Indonesians to become terrorists. If the government clamps down on Islamic radicals but does nothing about those conditions, the militants won't go away. Insurgencies inspired by economic and political problems do not respond to military action or political repression. When will we learn? GILBERT HEROD Carmel, Ind.

North Korea Fesses Up

The revelation that North Korea is building nuclear weapons [WORLD, Oct. 28] demands a reappraisal of U.S. government priorities. Surely the economy comes first, then homeland security, nuclear arms in North Korea and bioweapons in Iraq. It is irrational to consider Iraq more dangerous than the rogue state of North Korea or urban terrorism. Let's get to work on matters that affect Americans. As for Iraq, we should treat it as we have been treating Saudi Arabia: buy its oil and protect it from aggression by competing nations. JOHN O'MARA BOCKRIS College Station, Texas

Even though North Korea has admitted it possesses nukes, the U.S. seems in no hurry to act against a charter member of President Bush's "axis of evil"--perhaps because any such action could seriously harm American interests in Asia. So why punish poor Iraq? And what is Bush going to do with Pakistan, if it is true that its experts helped North Korea build its nuclear weapons? ASHOK PANDEY Istanbul

The photo you published of the malnourished North Korean child as an example of those hurt by the country's economic isolation left me angry and heartbroken. When will the leaders of countries like North Korea start to love their children more than they hate their enemies? I challenge those in Pyongyang to look into the faces of their poor and hungry to see the results of their endless quest for military power. SHELBY EMORY Atlanta

Immigration Time-Out?

Your story on how Somali immigrants are moving into Lewiston, Maine, described some of the resulting tensions in the town [LETTER FROM MAINE, Oct. 28]. The problems that the town had absorbing 1,100 Somalis showed a good reason to support an immigration time-out. The era of Ellis Island is past. Today's immigrants are coming to the third most populous nation in the world. America is unable to absorb any more immigrants. What's more, some of these people represent a groundswell of cultural change that their homelands obviously need. Enabling them to emigrate will only prolong and encourage their parent nations' continued failures. JAMES WALTON Davis, Calif.

Debating Human Destiny

Your article on psychologist Steven Pinker's new book, The Blank Slate, discussed the author's views on how much of human character is shaped by genes and how much by environment [SCIENCE, Oct. 28]. I am always amazed when I hear the phrase nature vs. nurture. What about free will? For most of us, neither nature nor nurture governs our ability to choose freely, at least not in a democratic society. Genetics, environment and upbringing can powerfully influence us to choose a specific path, but we are still able to choose an alternate one. To say we are all at the mercy of our genes and our upbringing is silly. JILL HUNGERFORD Neenah, Wis.

Re nature vs. nurture: back in the '50s, when I worked with Lenny Bruce, he used to tell this story: An infant child born to a pair of brilliant astrophysicists gets lost in the woods. Raised by a pack of wild dogs, he finds his way back to civilization years later and goes on to graduate with honors from M.I.T. But a year after that, he gets killed chasing a car. ORSON BEAN Venice, Calif.

A World Awaiting War

George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld are decidedly outside the normal run of statesmen who have held high office in the U.S. And the things that make this Administration different will contribute to a terrible war in the near future [Iraq, Oct. 21]. America is behaving like an imperial power, extending its economic and political hegemony and riding roughshod over any opponent who may get in its way. Bush doesn't care whether these organizations and nations have legitimate grounds to question his economic, political and strategic objectives. Such behavior cannot fail to promote war. And there will surely be a terrible war, not only for American service members but also for the average Iraqi conscript and all the other innocents caught up in this conflict. PETER MARSHALL Bangkok

I've been living in Israel for almost 14 years. I saw and felt the fear of the Gulf War in 1991. It was awful. In such a war, when you feel like a hunted rat, never being able to fight back, there are no heroes, no matter what they tell you afterward. Should a new war break out, Saddam's remnant Scuds will certainly fly again toward Israel. And this time they will carry bioweapons. Saddam and his fellow dictators don't deserve pity. There is much truth in the saying that every nation gets the government it deserves. The poor Iraqi people should have turned Saddam out long ago. Usually I don't believe in force, but in this case there is no other way. In order to build a safer world, it's absolutely necessary to get rid of Saddam. GABE DEARBORNE Kiryat Bialik, Israel

If the U.S. gave Saddam Hussein substantive financial aid to improve the lot of his people--aid equal to the value of the war that would have been fought--would Saddam become more or less of a threat? Folks who have nothing have nothing to lose. So give them something. SELBY FRANK Caledon, South Africa

Pathetic Fallacy

Re "Tools Of War" [IRAQ, Oct. 21]: America's exuberance about the sophistication and infallibility of its weapons is a pathetic display of ignorance. After all, Iraq has been stigmatized, embargoed and banished to the economic doldrums for the past 10 years, so why does the U.S. need such weaponry against a marginal opponent? The obsession with military power has prevailed over reasoned actions. This is the posture not of a great nation but of a frightened one unable to rise above tragedy. Bush can certainly destroy Iraq. He has the military might to do so but not the moral decency to act otherwise. Regrettably, war with Iraq will not buy the U.S. one iota of security. C. DON PALMER Winnipeg

Musical Footprints

It was with sadness that i read of the death of Ray Conniff [MILESTONES, Oct. 28], a gifted musician, composer and bandleader. Lesser people leave footprints in the sand; Conniff's, however, are indelible. I first heard a Conniff record in 1957 and since then have been a collector of his recordings--even today. JACK HEYMANN Pretoria

Slapstick or Just Sick?

So Johnny Knoxville, star of TV's Jackass, has made a film of the same name [MOVIES, Oct. 28]. It's disturbing that the Jackass concept of people deliberately injuring themselves while performing dangerous stunts is not restricted to the sadomasochism section of adult-video stores but instead is aimed at teenagers. I'm all for freedom of expression, but if pain and degradation are supposed to be funny, what's next? Since Knoxville seems to enjoy pain and danger, he should stop staging bizarre antics and become a fire fighter. Then he could get his kicks while doing some good. SANDRA RODRIGUEZ Mexico City