Letters

What Makes John Kerry Tick

"Kerry's strength lies in being his own man. His lack of good-ole-boyism is a welcome relief. He is a serious leader for these serious times." NANCY BRANNIGAN Mountain View, Calif.

It was interesting to read the article by Joe Klein "Inside the Mind of John Kerry" [Aug. 2]. I am ecstatic that there is a candidate for the presidency who uses some discernment when making a decision, who considers every angle of an issue before taking action that will affect millions of people and the stability of nations. If Kerry had had the same decisions to make as George W. Bush did about dealing with a perceived terrorist threat from Iraq, it is probable that the risk would have been properly evaluated and mitigated with the cooperation of the world community. JANE MULCASTER San Jose, Calif.

Since I am neither a republican nor a Democrat, I can say objectively that Kerry would probably be a good President. But what is truly scary to me is that presidential elections seem to hinge on whether a candidate is likable instead of capable. It makes me wonder whether Abraham Lincoln would be elected if he ran today. Not likely. The challenges the U.S. faces, like terrorism and job outsourcing, are based on fundamental problems that will take years, if not decades, to solve. Politicians want to give voters the impression that there is a quick fix for difficulties that have developed over a long period of time. VIJAYALAKSHMI SENTHILKUMAR Beaumont, Texas

Kerry's military service and heroic acts in Vietnam cannot be overlooked in our current state of war. Who is President Bush to ask American troops to go abroad and fight when he was disinclined to do so himself? Only someone who knows what war entails can determine if war is truly necessary. MATTHEW HERMAN Westport, Conn.

Your article stated that "the Democratic candidate deals in shades of gray, which means reaching a decision can be a long and winding road." Unfortunately, Kerry's winding road contains so many hairpin turns--his flip-flops--that he does not inspire confidence. RICHARD L. JOHNSON College Station, Texas

I wasn't going to vote for Kerry because of his reputation for flip-flopping. But if it becomes evident you have made the wrong decision, it's time to flip-flop. When Kerry's eyes were opened to what was happening in Vietnam, he opposed the war that he had volunteered to fight in. I was taken in by the lies regarding the dangers posed by Iraq. I was in favor of a pre-emptive war to get Saddam Hussein before he used weapons of mass destruction against the U.S. or supplied them to terrorists. I now realize we Americans were deceived by our President and Vice President. There is no virtue in blind, stupid stubbornness (neither mine nor our President's), no wisdom in sticking to an untenable position. I am flip-flopping to support Kerry. STEWART PERRY Wayzata, Minn.

The photo you published of a woman yawning as Kerry addressed a rally in Iowa says it all about Kerry--boring. BRIAN BOLTZ Lancaster, Ohio

Preventing the Next 9/11

The most important implication of the 9/11 commission's report [Aug. 2] is that the rules of warfare have changed. Conventional strategies of employing overwhelming military force will not work against networks like al-Qaeda. The key to combatting terrorism is the coordination of intelligence gathering and the sharing of information. Unfortunately, the Bush Administration has failed to recognize this crossroads in history and has continued to emphasize conventional warfare. The aggressive application of military might is greatly increasing fear and hatred of the U.S. throughout the world and creating an environment in which terrorism can thrive. JIM KENNEDY Broomfield, Colo.

It is imperative that President Bush and his staff members lead the country's effort to quickly implement the 9/11 commission's recommendations to reform U.S. intelligence operations. The President faces what is probably the most difficult task since World War II in revamping the intelligence agencies. I know the Administration is up to the task. The creation of a National Intelligence Director will send a clear message to the American people, Congress and intelligence officials that Bush is a strong and foresighted leader who should be re-elected for his courage in tackling the problem. Strength in action is all that terrorists understand. PETER H. SPIELMANN Rancho Mirage, Calif.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if, instead of having turf battles over who is in charge of intelligence gathering, the heads of the FBI and the CIA, ALONG WITH THEIR AIDES, would meet weekly for a full day to brainstorm, share information and ideas and make plans for future interagency cooperation? BRUCE BARTEL Huntington Beach, Calif.

The Danger of Absolutes

The U.S. deserves admiration for its great achievements, as well as the world's sympathy for the atrocious attacks of 9/11 [Aug. 2]. But having just returned from a lengthy stay in the U.S., I was amazed by how little most Americans seem to know about the rest of the world and by their inability to see things in other than absolute terms. The most dangerous leaders--political and religious--are those who paint the world in black and white. They profess to recognize very clearly, at first sight, the good from the bad. They have absolute certainty that God is on their side. Such demagogues can be Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Democrat or Republican. But the world's challenges are not black and white. Despite what the Bush Administration maintains, the war in Iraq has nothing to do with freedom. The U.S. invasion was based on lies. There were real geopolitical and business motives for overthrowing Saddam Hussein. H. CHRISTIAN EGGENBERGER Platja d'Aro, Spain

Vegas: Sin and Sensation

Your story about Las Vegas, "The Strip is Back! [July 26], was not only about the deterioration of a culture but also about America's loss of its heart and soul. Vegas, with all its billions of dollars, is a city full of lonely people alienated from one another and any sense of purpose in life. What happened to enjoying simple beauty, peace, innocence, love and giving to one another? I would like to see a TIME cover story devoted to another city that millions of people from around the world are traveling to: Assisi, Italy, the home of St. Francis. BRUCE DAVIS Assisi, Italy

Accountability for Sudan

Simon Robinson's report "Nowhere to Hide" [July 5], on the humanitarian crisis and the genocidal atrocities affecting the Darfurians, non-Arab blacks of Sudan's Darfur region, left me disgusted. I'm convinced that our world is doomed to a brutal and sad end. The article noted, "The U.N. and the U.S. do not call the pogroms genocide--in part because doing so could oblige the international community to intervene to save the Darfurians." Excuse me, but what is so wrong with intervention? Already 10,000 people have been killed and a million forced to leave their homes. We cannot afford to wait for 500,000 people to die and for more women and children to be raped before the international community intervenes. Where are the leaders of the larger, more powerful countries of Africa while the atrocities are going on? African nations and organizations should be called to account for letting them happen in their backyard. Their silence will be seen as consent to the killing of Darfurians. Africa should hold the leaders of Sudan accountable. The U.S. cannot be expected to come running to solve every problem in the world. It has its hands full dealing with the mess it has created in Iraq. BUKOLA A. JEJELOYE Lagos, Nigeria

Which Day of Rest?

It was presumptuous of Nancy Gibbs, in her Essay "And on the Seventh Day We Rested?" to suggest that the U.S. needs to have Sundays off as a day of rest [Aug. 2]. A large part of the U.S. population is Muslim, and the Islamic faith designates Friday as the day of prayer. Jews observe the Sabbath from sunset on Friday until sunset on Saturday. So how can we expect a pluralistic society like America's to settle on just one day of rest? When blue laws restricting what could be sold on Sundays were enforced, Jewish and Muslim Americans could not conduct business on two days of the week: the Sabbath that their religion observed and Sunday. With the demise of blue laws almost everywhere, at least the playing field is more level. The enforcement of blue laws was tantamount to establishing a state religion. I am thankful that today they have become just a memory for most people. LAYNI S. ROTHBORT Millburn, N.J.

I was delighted to read Gibbs' essay in support of blue laws that keep certain businesses from operating on Sunday. I remember that when I was a boy, many stores were closed; there was a quietness then that surrounded us. May we return to the days when we had time for God and family on Sunday. ROBERT RYKOWSKI Scotch Plains, N.J.

How is it that Jews are able to maintain a Sabbath without a government mandate restricting the activities of others on Friday night and Saturday, but somehow those who observe the Sabbath on Sunday would need a law requiring businesses to close? Observance of the Sabbath is undoubtedly a great spiritual benefit for individuals and families. It is, however, a personal decision requiring choices and sacrifices. Blue laws have no place in our multicultural society. DANIEL A. GUTSTEIN Chicago

Battling Bogus Bags

Your article on counterfeit luxury merchandise, "The Purse-Party Blues" [Aug. 2], never asked why Louis Vuitton or any other high-end manufacturer deserves to be paid $1,500 for a handbag when, as you reported, "a 40-ft. container filled with fake bags can turn a profit of $2 million to $4 million" at $35 a purse. Is the quality of the real designer bag truly worth so much more? Perhaps not, since the president of the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition maintains that "the machines that companies use as legitimate manufacturers are also available to the bad guys." But who are the bad guys here? To me, it's just as criminal to soak consumers for $1,465 more per handbag just because the real Louis Vuitton Speedy bag has a genuine leather zipper toggle and one less stitch on the handle strap. JEFF DEITRICH State College, Penn.

Only an idiot would spend $1,500 for a purse. I fail to see the appeal of these products. They are not attractive, practical or economical. The only selling point is that expensive designer bags are covered with the maker's logo. But that just serves to declare to the world that the owner has no self-confidence and no sense of aesthetics or economics. DEBBIE FIELDS Las Vegas