Letters

Time to Hang Up the Spurs?

As the Bush Administration works to mend fences with old allies and meet mounting challenges, it is retiring its role as the lone cowboy riding out to remake the world. Readers formed opposing camps over the transition, either praising pre-emption or breathing a sigh of relief at seeing it laid to rest

Those in the White House have apparently realized that going it alone is not a feasible strategy in international relations [July 17]. But anyone who has matured past childhood knows of the need to cooperate with others to do anything constructive. Bullies may win for a while, but they never succeed in the end--and their end is always ignominious. The Bush Administration needs to be held accountable for what it clearly should have known.

TOM EHLINGER

Bloomington, Minn.

Since there have been no terrorist attacks on U.S. soil since 9/11, it's obvious that George W. Bush's "cowboy diplomacy" is just what we need. The challenges the President has faced would test the fortitude of any leader, but thankfully he has proved to be more than equal to the task.

MARILYN BRALEY

Houston

It's sad that it took the administration three years to see what was obvious: the Bush Doctrine is a recipe for disaster. The doctrine has stoked the fires of nuclear proliferation. By invading Iraq, which had no WMD, and offering diplomacy and concessions to nations with full or developing nuclear-weapons programs, the U.S. has signaled that potential adversaries should scramble to get nukes as quickly as possible.

ZACH ZISKIN

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

TIME criticized Bush's unilateral foreign policy. But your story demonstrated the utter ineffectiveness of multilateral diplomacy by pointing out that "since joining multilateral talks over Iran and North Korea, the U.S. has failed to persuade Russia and China, who wield veto power in the U.N. Security Council, to agree to specific sanctions against either Tehran or Pyongyang." So far, it would seem, multilateral diplomacy is batting zero.

CAROL JARRARD

Augusta, Ga.

This administration's "Cowboy Diplomacy" might have been more successful if not for terribly flawed decisions and planning (or lack thereof), corruption, the sanction of immoral practices and a recklessness with the lives of our military personnel.

ROBERT BERG

La Luz, N.M.

Using the word cowboy as a term of derision is insulting to most Americans. Cowboys have always been the good guys, no matter what the European press or some folks on the East Coast of the U.S. may think.

BOB OWER

Prescott, Ariz.

While brute reality has forced the U.S. to use diplomacy abroad, the President's swaggering arrogance is still alive and well at home. Bush ignores established law and subverts congressional legislation with signing statements. I half expected to hear him repeat his famous words "Bring 'em on" in response to the recent attempts, however feeble, by Congress and the courts to rein in his power.

GAYLE BELL

Winter Park, Fla.

Missile Madness

Re "The Kim Conundrum" [July 17], on the problem posed by North Korea's nuclear program and missile tests: Your story said, "Despite the fact that the government of South Korea has little to show for it, polls there suggest people still support the 'sunshine' policy, in place since 1998, which amounts to an all-carrots, no-sticks approach to relations with Pyongyang." I believe that is a little harsh because in the past dozen or so years South Korea has tried diplomacy with the North even as it bolstered its defense capabilities. The combination of strong defense and openness to negotiation is probably about as good as the Republic of Korea can do.

MIKE STARK

Greenbelt, Md.

If Bush would invite Kim Jong Il out to his ranch, he might accomplish a great deal on a personal level with Kim that could not happen any other way. Bush should do the same thing with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran. What does Bush have to lose, for God's sake? As the saying goes, "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

JOHN VEHON

Dallas

On-Duty Depravity

"A Soldier's Shame" [July 17], on the rape and murder of Abeer Qasim Hamza al-Janabi and the killing of her family members by U.S. soldiers, displayed insensitivity and poor judgment. The article began with a discussion of whether Abeer was beautiful. The answer, we learn, is no: she was merely "ordinary." Does it matter? Would the crime be somehow more understandable if the victim had been pretty? The reason the soldier selected her is unknown. TIME's decision to evaluate Abeer's physical attractiveness and speculate on what made her "tantalizing" was both poor journalism and an insult to the young girl who died a violent and tragic death.

MARGARET EMERY

Washington

Atrocities committed by U.S. soldiers in Iraq are changing the way the U.S. is perceived by the rest of world--and Muslim countries in particular. I am sure that the vast majority of U.S. Army officers and enlisted men are decent, professional soldiers. But the recent string of incidents that has come to light in Iraq is destroying the reputation of a great professional army. Swift and transparent trial and punishment of the perpetrators of those crimes are the least the U.S. owes to the Iraqi people and indeed to its conscience.

MAJOR RAZA ISHAQ MALIK (RET.)

Lahore, Pakistan

Controversial Cleric

I was saddened by your interview with Katharine Jefferts Schori, the Presiding Bishop--elect of the Episcopal Church of the U.S.A. [July 17]. When asked about her focus as head of her church, she mentioned feeding people, providing primary education, promoting sustainable development and healing people with AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. She made no mention of God, let alone Jesus Christ. Her answers would have been more fitting coming from the head of the Gates Foundation than a national religious leader. For 2,000 years the church has taught that our works must flow from our faith. Sadly, Bishop Jefferts Schori spoke only of works and of a church whose focus doesn't include God.

(THE REV.) CANON FRANCIS C. ZANGER

Charleston, S.C.

I just about shouted hallelujah when I read that Jefferts Schori's focus will be to help right such global wrongs as hunger, lack of education for girls and boys and the fact that too many people die each day of preventable diseases. Ending suffering should be the top priority for all world leaders.

L. PATRICIA ARIAS

Atlanta

When TIME asked, "Is belief in Jesus the only way to get to heaven?", Jefferts Schori said, "For us to assume that God could not act in other ways is ... putting God in an awfully small box." She implied that there are several roads to God. But faith is not cherry picking. The Presiding Bishop is in the wrong profession.

JULIUS OGUNRO

Lagos