Letters

When Mom Goes to War

"As a soldier, pilot, mother and woman, Laura Richardson is an incredible role model. Her example transcends all cultural barriers." PATRICIA B. SOLECKI Moorestown, N.J.

I was deeply moved by "An American Family Goes to War" [COVER STORY, March 24]. I give married battalion commanders Laura and Jim Richardson a lot of credit for being able to go and serve in the Middle East even though their 14-year-old daughter Lauren is home in the U.S. I admire the Richardsons for their dedication to our country. And Lauren's courage touched my heart. I am just a few years older than Lauren, and I cannot fathom the emotions she is feeling. She must be a very brave young girl. The Richardson family must have a strong faith in God. LINDSEY ROLLINS Romeo, Mich.

Why do women like Laura Richardson have children? There is nothing admirable about a mother whose devotion to her job is so strong that it makes her leave her child behind in the care of friends. Richardson and her husband are so absorbed in their careers that their daughter is just something to be managed while they are away. I have no quarrel with women in the military--they have as much right as anyone else to get shot at--but I do have a problem with mothers who are irresponsible. JOAN COLAVECCHIO Atlantis, Fla.

It's sad to think that parents would consider going to war for their country a greater duty than raising their own child. The world needs good parents more than it needs soldiers. CHRIS LEONARD La Canada, Calif.

I am a retired sergeant first class and am married to a master sergeant (also retired). We loved our time in the service. I am proud to be an American, to be a veteran and to have served when I was married with three daughters. It takes a strong individual to make a career in the military, and being married to a career soldier when you are one is a wonderful combination. You learn that there is nothing you can't do. The rewards outweigh the sacrifice--and there is plenty of sacrifice. LINDA LUNA-KRESS Apex, N.C.

Your article on the Richardsons' leaving their daughter at home while they serve in the military in Kuwait is all the evidence most people need to decide that America is coming unglued. I'm a war veteran myself, but I'm reluctantly beginning to agree that something is wrong here. SHAWN DISNEY Onancock, Va.

The prospect of families being separated by war is heart wrenching. Knowing that people like Laura and Jim Richardson are serving abroad to keep people like me alive and protected is overwhelming. We Americans take so much for granted. The brave men and women who are going into battle make me feel that we have so much to be thankful for. God bless all our troops, and bring them home safely. ISABELLA TREECE Columbus, Ohio

The Necessity of the U.N.

Joe Klein, in "Two Cheers For The Peacekeepers," evaluated the U.N. through the cynical eye of realpolitik [IN THE ARENA, March 24]. But the symbolic value of the U.N. as an institution transcends pragmatism. One can judge U.S. democracy with the same cold eye and see real flaws: elections and policies corrupted by money, legislation derailed by pork-barrel politics and partisanship. Still, Americans would not dream of ditching our flawed democracy. The U.N. is our best hope for a humane and peaceful world. We must believe in it as a work in progress and strive in good faith to keep it relevant. CAROL JULES Charleston, S.C.

The U.N. can work only as well as its member nations wish it to. Those who want America to get out of this alliance don't have a clue about how much more dangerous the world would become with no U.N. There has not been a world war since the U.N. came into existence. The U.N. is needed to prevent the globe from slipping into death throes underneath a chemical or radioactive cloud. JOAN E. HARMAN Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

France Plays Hardball

In his commentary "France's Game," about French opposition to the war in Iraq [ESSAY, March 24], Charles Krauthammer said that a French-led coalition of nations is "challenging the hegemony of American power and the legitimacy of American dominance." Krauthammer seems to think this is a bad thing. Like many other patriotic Americans, however, I believe this could be a good thing. Whatever the French goal is, why do Americans believe they should never be questioned or challenged? PEGGY COLLINS New York City

On its course as the leader of the opposition to U.S. actions in Iraq, France risks becoming irrelevant in the 21st century. Old ideas die hard, but they will die. DAVID USHER Colchester, Vt.

Krauthammer's arrogant tone, indifference to the world's concerns and blind faith in America's right to the spoils of the cold war are exactly what engenders the distrust of the U.S. MATT MILLER Midland, Mich.

It is right for France to seek limits to U.S. global dominance. The world needs checks and balances--a principle at the heart of the U.S. Constitution. ROLAND HUET Fremont, Calif.

Who says America should run the world? Krauthammer's essay was patronizing. As a Briton, I am ashamed of my country for its support of the Iraqi invasion, and if it were possible, I would declare myself French, German, Chinese or Russian right this minute. It is patently obvious that the U.S. would not have invaded Iraq if that country had no oil. The U.S. defended Kuwait only to protect its oil. It is not France that is defying the will of the world; a majority of nations oppose the war in Iraq. It is America, Spain and, to my great shame, Britain that are on a course to destroy the U.N. and NATO. DAVID HOGG Paisley, Scotland

Krauthammer claimed that the U.S. Is the world's dominant nation "in every field of endeavor--economic, military, diplomatic, cultural, even linguistic." Let me express some doubts about American culture. When the "axis of evil" is crushed, what sort of culture does Bush plan to give to liberated Iraqis: The Osbournes, Die Hard and American Pie? ERIC CUGLIO Marseilles, France

I found the essay by Krauthammer shameful, ignorant and offensive. I have never seen a country so vilified for wanting peace as France has been! As for business dealings with Iraq, France is not the only country that is culpable. But unlike the U.S., it has the courage to admit it. During the Iran-Iraq war, many Western democracies, including the U.S., did business with Iraq. France, Canada and Germany all have a right to disagree with America, just as the U.S. may disagree with them. PHILIP JEDLICKA Toronto

The Wrong Signal

Where were the antiwar demonstrators [DISSENT, March 31] when thousands of innocent people were killed in the World Trade Center and in the Bali bombings? How different is crashing a commercial plane into a building from firing a Tomahawk missile? Until antiwar protesters condemn all terrorist acts the same way they are now attacking George Bush and Tony Blair, these so-called peace activists are sending terrorists the wrong signal. CLARIBEL DAVID Quezon City, the Philippines

All around the world, shouting antiwar demonstrators fail to see the necessity of America's actions in Iraq. Although I am too young to have experienced World War II, I am old enough to be grateful that the Allied forces allowed me to be born into freedom in the Netherlands. At times like these, I feel ashamed of being Dutch.

Granted, absolute, sole superpowerdom does not automatically entitle the U.S. to be blindly followed by the rest of the world. But its action is a sheer necessity, its stance a demonstration of courage in the face of widespread European hypocrisy. The war puts the people of Iraq at risk, but they have been at risk for years at the hands of one of the world's cruelest dictators. PETER DE VLAAM Sliedrecht, the Netherlands

Free at Last

I am outraged that some people think that Utah teen Elizabeth Smart somehow adapted to being held captive by her abductors [SOCIETY, March 24]. It is obvious that Smart was intimidated into silence. To suggest that she eventually settled into her life with her kidnappers and had no desire to leave them is akin to blaming the victim. CLAUDETTE POWELL Los Angeles

All the World's a Court

Re "The NBA's Global Game Plan" [BUSINESS, March 17]: The growing number of foreign players in America's National Basketball Association adds a special flavor to the games. The greatest thing about the globalization of the NBA is that the players get along well as they compete in the game they all love. It doesn't matter where they come from, what language they speak, what color skin they have; they play hard, enjoy themselves and entertain the fans. The NBA has a lot to teach the world. TAKAHITO HIGUCHI Yokkaichi, Japan