Letters

Mission Not Accomplished

"Whether or not the Iraq war was right, it's the troops on the ground who are bearing the brunt of a failed strategy. We need to get them out." HERBERT M. DICKER Port Washington, N.Y.

Your asking what went wrong in Iraq does irreparable harm to the morale of America's troops and their families [COVER STORIES, Oct. 6]. Ridding the world of Saddam Hussein's regime was a lofty achievement, and if we accomplish nothing else politically in Iraq, we have done the people of that country and the world a great service. How about focusing on the good that has come of U.S. efforts there? With Saddam in power, there was surely no hope. JACKI COOK Red Boiling Springs, Tenn.

Since President Bush announced in May that "major combat operations" in Iraq were over, the U.S. has lost scores of troops there, reconstruction of war-torn Iraq has stalled, no weapons of mass destruction (WMD) have been found, and we can't get substantial support from our allies. What a turnabout it would be if the Democrats used pictures of Bush landing on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln when they campaign to regain the White House. STUART FISHER Abington, Pa.

Have we Americans forgotten our own history? We did not become a perfected democracy overnight. Although we declared our independence in 1776 and most think of that as the birth date of our nation, George Washington was not elected President until the U.S. Constitution went into effect in 1789. That was 13 years later. Many in our country and around the world seem unwilling to wait 13 months in Iraq's case, let alone 13 years for a constitution and a President. Let's give the process a little more time before judging the effectiveness of the Bush Administration. GREGORY J. CHILCOTE Orem, Utah

Where I come from, if an employee embarked on a major initiative without planning for the long run, misrepresented important facts and made ruinous miscalculations, that employee would be fired, along with his management team. MARIANNE GABEL Delaware, Ohio

If the media and the democrats continue to try to convince the American public that the Iraq war is a failure, it will become one. What critic of the war has come up with a plan that would have led to victory in Iraq, completely rebuilt Iraq's infrastructure and created the foundation for an Iraqi democracy with the death of fewer than 400 American soldiers in seven months? On the whole, the Bush Administration has done an excellent job. Just ask the Iraqi citizens. JAMES MURDOCK Denton, Texas

In "So, What Went Wrong?" Michael Elliott asserted, "If the assumption that Saddam had deadly weapons looks, at least for now, to have been mistaken, it was to an extent understandable." But letting Bush off the hook in this manner is equivalent to saying it is O.K. for a district attorney to tamper with evidence because he truly believes the accused is guilty. Cherry picking only the most supportive intelligence reports, ignoring others and making a case that is much stronger than the evidence warrants in an effort to convince the public that war is necessary are wrong. It doesn't matter whether or not you truly believed there were WMD in Iraq. TED LANDAU Rochester Hills, Mich.

It has been only a few months since the fall of Saddam's regime, yet we frequently hear what a "fiasco" Iraq is. While the job in Iraq is hard, the occupation will not be over next week or even next year. I cannot believe we Americans are so addicted to instant gratification that we cannot stick to something for more than a few months. MARK JASS Trumbull, Conn.

The American public isn't going to stand for another war of choice. The remaining members of the "axis of evil," Iran and North Korea, are already thumbing their nose at the U.S. over nuclear development, and lesser thugs, like the Syrians, are breathing a lot easier. The Administration's miscalculation in Iraq has truly ugly implications. JACK STREET Vineyard Haven, Mass.

If the U.S. hadn't taken out Saddam, sooner or later he would have done everything possible to destroy us. If we had waited, the cost in money and lives would have been far greater. JOE KOSTRUB Pittsburgh, Pa.

Richard Nixon was forced to resign after he lied about Watergate. Now it appears that Bush misled us about the reasons for attacking Iraq. Impeachment proceedings should have begun. Why must U.S. troops remain as an occupying force in Iraq? Is this another Vietnam? FRED BUSHNELL Pfalzgrafenweiler, Germany

--Some readers reacted angrily to the cover headline "Mission Not Accomplished" and the photo of President Bush wearing a flight suit on the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln last May. "How dare you put our President on your cover with such a despicable headline?" wrote a Connecticut man. But not all readers saw red. A Washington State resident wryly approved of "the cute picture of the guy in the fighter-pilot costume. Too bad you didn't save it for Halloween--that's when most of us play dress-up." Quipped a woman from New Hampshire: "Despite your negative headline, I could still see what a hottie our President is."

Bush Wouldn't Listen

It is clear that the Bush administration decided to invade and occupy a sovereign country that had never attacked the U.S. and was not even a real threat [COVER STORIES, Oct. 6]. There was no link between Saddam and al-Qaeda, and no WMD have been found. The French tried hard to warn the Americans not to invade Iraq, which is what you would expect from your oldest friend. But Bush wouldn't listen. This is a very sad time for those who used to look to America as the beacon of freedom and respect for human values in a troubled world. LUC SERARD Avignon, France

The failure of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is the expected result of arrogant unilateralist thinking, a tough-guy mentality and ignorance about the rest of the world. Bush and his handlers were so sure they had it right that they viewed culture and history as irrelevant. Plenty of friends and allies warned the Bush Administration that the Iraqis would not welcome U.S. occupation any more than the Palestinians or the Lebanese have welcomed Israeli occupation. And there was no shortage of people who could report on the crumbling Iraqi infrastructure. I don't buy the explanation that the U.S. just didn't know how bad conditions were in Iraq. We have a President who made up his mind and did not want to be confused with facts. Overseas Americans, like myself, who live surrounded by foreign nationals know that Bush has made a colossal mistake and that the entire world is less stable because of it. BILL DOBBS Alexandria, Egypt

Where Are the WMD?

Your report "Chasing A Mirage" said some Iraqi scientists claim the country's WMD were destroyed before the war [COVER STORIES, Oct. 6]. Rather than spend more money looking for the elusive weapons, President Bush should allocate a few million dollars to hire the Iraqi personnel who were supposedly responsible for hiding or destroying the WMD. The government could save some money, and our intelligence agencies might learn a few things. BARRY STEVENS Arlington, Texas

The Bush administration's continued insistence that it is still just a matter of time before WMD are found and its reported request for $600 million more to continue the investigation should be considered an embarrassment to the nation. The only thing in doubt at this point is the President's credibility. LES HELBAK Boulder, Colo.

When the Illness Is Real

Your story "How To Heal a Hypochondriac" was unfair to many people who desperately visit doctor after doctor for some relief from their debilitating symptoms [HEALTH, Oct. 6]. When basic tests don't reveal anything, a patient is told there is nothing wrong and therefore it must be "all in your head." After doing my own research on the Internet, I learned that my problem has a name, fibromyalgia. Now that I am receiving proper treatment, I am doing better. True hypochondria must certainly be a problem, but as long as doctors label a patient a hypochondriac before ruling out every other possible disorder, people with genuine health problems will, as your story put it, "clog the whole health-care system." WENDY DALY Charles Town, W.Va.

The true difficulty is when a physician assumes someone's fears are not based on reality, even though there may be an underlying physical condition that, left untreated, could progress to a serious illness. Before doctors begin to talk about hypochondria, all aspects of symptoms should be explored to separate the real from the imagined. PAM PROCTOR Syracuse, N.Y.

What's Cooking?

"Inside The Food Labs," on the technology of developing mass-marketed food products, made me lose my appetite [SCIENCE, Oct. 6]. The industry and food scientists you described are not only filling the nation's plates but also loading us up with chemicals and fats and contributing to the obesity epidemic in the U.S. and abroad. We are exporting these artificial foods and thus fueling the rise of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and childhood obesity. The food industry focuses on increasing profits. Maybe food scientists can concoct something to protect us from the escalating health-care costs brought on by the commercial food trade. ANDREA C. BRESNICK Sharon, Mass.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if these miraculous food labs gave as much attention to nutrition as to taste? You asserted that the food scientists are responding "to the needs of 280 million people all trying to eat ... in the most enjoyable, affordable and nutritious way possible." You are confusing needs with desires. To think of the new food products as nutritious is a tragic mistake. And affordable? No way! Even "enjoyable" is open to question. Perhaps more welcome to our tongues would be the magic of a tart McIntosh apple instead of a piece of candy. If we cared more about people who are starving than about our food fads, that would truly be miraculous. JACK HART Prescott, Ariz.

Trigger Man

Your "10 Questions For Bill O'Reilly" [INTERVIEW, Oct. 6] quoted the Fox News host as saying about political satirist Al Franken, "He got up in front of a national audience and called me a liar for 20 minutes. President Andrew Jackson would have put a bullet between his eyes." O'Reilly, a petulant man, revealed his crass philosophy, which evidently involves fantasies of killing anyone who points out his lies. JAMIE WAGONER San Francisco

Was O'Reilly suggesting that Franken should have been shot? Franken is a very funny satirist, and he obviously struck a nerve. O'Reilly is more than scary if this is his response to Franken's thought-provoking book Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right. It is telling that O'Reilly made no attempt to dispute Franken's points; O'Reilly's response is to whine that he can't shoot the messenger. MARCIA HAIR Marietta, Ga.

In Praise of a Partisan

Palestinians and all people of conscience are profoundly saddened by the death of Edward Said, defender of Palestinian rights [MILESTONES, Oct. 6]. The plight and dispossession of Palestinian refugees weighed heavily on Professor Said. He was a relentless fighter for justice for Palestinians. His published works aimed to represent the Palestinian experience to the American public. At this sad time, we renew our commitment to continue the struggle until Palestinian refugees achieve their right to return with their families to their homes and land of origin. ABBAS HAMIDEH Yonkers, N.Y.

Thongs: Right or Wrong?

As a volleyball player, I was surprised that Claudia Wallis' piece on the popularity of thong underwear among young women mentioned none of the practical reasons for wearing thongs [ESSAY, Oct. 6]. Instead, she focused entirely on their perceived sexual aspect. I began wearing thongs under the spandex shorts of my volleyball uniform because they are more comfortable. Unlike other underwear, thongs show no panty line and prevent the inevitable bunching. Although my 50-year-old mother was reluctant to try them, she now swears by them. Maybe you should give thongs a chance. AMY R. LIEVER Walnut Creek, Calif.

As a father of three sons and no daughters, I suppose I am uniquely unqualified to offer an opinion on Wallis' Essay, but here goes. Why don't more parents just say no and respond to the inevitable adolescent outcry by using that tried-and-true parental explanation "Because I said so!" It has worked for generations of parents. JOE BODELL Philadelphia

Social and sexual politics aside, many women find thongs to be a solution to the uncomfortable and unsightly bunching up of regular underwear. I was lucky to have a mother who respected my ability to decide which underwear was the best fit for my body shape. I hope I am wise enough to listen to my daughter when she starts to make her clothing choices. MARNIE LOOMIS Portland, Ore.

Amazons of the Silver Screen

In his profile of Uma Thurman and her violent, extremely physical role in Quentin Tarantino's action film Kill Bill Vol. 1 [MOVIES, Sept. 29], critic Josh Tyrangiel asserted that "the only analogous performance in recent movie history is Sigourney Weaver's turn as the avenging warrior" in the Alien series. This is a very limited view of cinema history. Action movies made in Hong Kong and Japan have routinely featured dynamic heroines who cause much more mayhem than your typical, contrived male Hollywood action hero--and these are the kinds of movies Tarantino is paying homage to in Kill Bill. MARC WALKOW New York City

Top Cat

Your item on Halle Berry's playing the title role in the upcoming movie Catwoman reported that Eartha Kitt made the character famous in the Batman TV series in the 1960s [PEOPLE, Oct. 6]. But the most captivating actress to play Catwoman in the Batman shows was the incomparable Julie Newmar. No other actress could hold a paw to her. Please give credit where credit is due, along with a saucer of warm milk and a sprig of catnip. WAYNE HARRISON Loganville, Ga.