Letters

The Daily Hell That Is Baghdad

Correspondent Aparisim Ghosh's unflinching diary of his days and nights in Baghdad proved eye-opening to readers. Scores wrote to thank Ghosh, many finding sobering contrast between how they lead their lives and how Ghosh, Baghdad citizens and coalition troops must cope during wartime

Aparisim (Bobby) Ghosh offered an amazing view of hell on earth [Aug. 14]. I grew up in Ireland during the Troubles and know the anguish one experiences during times like that. It is indeed pure hell being worried your mother and father will be dragged from their home at night, never to be seen again; looking at everything as a potential bomb; and asking why no one offers help. Once again I realize I'm only one person and feel helpless to stop the suffering. Sandra Hoye Spokane, Wash.

On a rare occasion, a book, a movie or, in this case, an article confronts you with enough power to jar you out of your comfort zone. Living a relatively privileged life, it is easy to lose sight of basic freedoms we take for granted: to be able to shop at a market without fearing that a bomb will go off, to trust that our justice system will treat us fairly and to have confidence that our families and friends will be alive tomorrow. Although I disagreed with the decision to initiate war in Iraq, I can now imagine the consequences of Bush's withdrawing American troops. Thank you for shedding light on the situation in Iraq. More important, thank you for your remarkable insight and brutal honesty. Erika Jang Evanston, Ill.

Ghosh's "Baghdad Diary" put me in mind of a famous World War II saying: We sure liberated the hell out of that place. Connie Chapman Woodbridge, Va.

I failed to find where Ghosh was "unstinting in his praise and admiration for the courage and integrity of the American servicemen and -women in Iraq," as indicated by managing editor Richard Stengel in his To Our Readers column. In all the gloom, surely there is a ray of hope resulting from the actions of the courageous troops in Iraq. Frank Bacon Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, N.M.

What an absolutely stunning piece of journalism. Ghosh's "Baghdad Diary" should be required reading for all political and military analysts and decision makers who think they know how to achieve peace in the world. Alvin Jacobson Cambridge, Mass.

Ghosh's description of Baghdad was a wonderful piece of work. Is this the same Iraq our Administration paints such a rosy picture of? In the process of trying to shove liberty and democracy down the Iraqis' throats, we have made their day-to-day lives miserable. Saroja Venkatraman Martinez, Ga.

I don't understand the many references to sectarianism. It seems to me that the war is more one of control of people and territory than of religion. If changing your name protects you from attack, then you can't tell your enemy by looking at him or even knowing what he believes. The agony in Baghdad seems more like territorial gang warfare than religious strife, more about revenge than an attempt to make people believe in a different theology. Mark Larsen Grants Pass, Ore.

I read Ghosh's account of his trip to Baghdad on the Highway of Death from the safety of a train headed from Los Angeles to San Diego. There could be no more striking contrast between the scenic sunset I saw over the Pacific Ocean and his views of rubble from roadside bombs. I heard the roar of the surf and the sounds of children laughing as they ran toward the sea. He heard the "deep rumble" of M-16s and the "higher-pitched clatter" of AK-47s. Michelle Pietzak Los Angeles

Why is it that no one wants to address the dirty little secret about the war? Iraq and the rest of the world--especially the U.S.--would be much better off if Saddam Hussein had been left in power. The only thing that the Iraqi people have proved through this fiasco is that they deserve a tyrant. Your cover story "Life in Hell" made more sense than the Bush Administration's delusional claim of "Mission Accomplished." Larry Maysack Haymarket, Va.

Ghosh says that all Baghdad's residents are experiencing "Life in Hell." Iraq isn't exactly paradise, but perhaps Ghosh should have spent time in other places, say, Darfur, the Ninth Ward of New Orleans--or Iraq when it was still under Saddam Hussein's rule. William West Fairborn, Ohio

Of all the accounts coming out of Iraq, this article has best captured the despair and fear gripping the citizens of a country that is no longer a country. The laws of a democracy, or even a dictatorship, do not exist. The watercolors used to paint an encouraging picture are being washed away by the blood of people ruled by fear, not hope. Joe Macdonald Dartmouth, N.S.

Innocents in the Cross Fire

Your headline "Unintended Targets," [Aug. 14] for the article about children who are casualties on both sides of the war between Israel and Hizballah, was offensive. Unlike Israel, Hizballah intentionally targets civilians, including children. Your headline implies a false moral equivalence and obscures the fact that Israel is fighting to protect its civilians. Carl Drucker Hollywood, Fla.

Whenever countries wage war, the intention is to kill and maim as many people as possible, to terrorize the population and destroy infrastructure. It is insane, wrong and cruel, but humanity has still not learned. Evelyn Schindler Montreal

Fidel's Brother in Arms

Dolly Mascarenas' article "The Raul I Know" [Aug. 14], about Raul Castro, read like a fluff piece on a movie star. The Castro brothers have murdered, lied and driven their country into economic despair. It's time to call a spade a spade. Michael J. Pendall Albany, N.Y.

I have never been so outraged as when I read this profile. I am a child of a Cuban emigrant whose life was destroyed by the revolution. Another family member was tortured under orders from Raul for protesting the actions of the Communist Party for 10 years. Mascarenas should have spoken with people who have experienced the actions of Fidel and Raul; she needs to get the whole picture.

Gerald Hachey West Palm Beach, Fla.

Aging with AIDS

Re Your story about people who are surviving with HIV and AIDS into their 50s, 60s and even 70s [Aug. 14]: You reported that a woman refused to eat cookies baked by one of the people profiled "for fear of getting HIV." People should know by now that they can't get HIV or AIDS from a hug or even a kiss, so they certainly can't get it from a cookie! Scott Curry Pineville, La.

Black Boxes Hit the Road

Your story about how microcomputers can record a driver's speed at the time of a crash [Aug. 14] noted that some people are opposed to the use of black boxes, arguing that they violate drivers' civil rights. Driving is a privilege, not a right. The only thing more disturbing than that attitude is that car manufacturers can make vehicles capable of such dangerous speeds. There is no reason for anyone other than professional race-car drivers to go 139 m.p.h., as did the youths in your story. Yet the Federal Government refuses to require that cars' speed governors be set closer to the highest interstate speed limit. Ralph A. Blessing Partnership for Safe Driving Washington

I am dismayed but not surprised at the reaction of Richard Slade, the father of one of the street racers responsible for the deaths of two innocent people. The problem rests squarely with the racing drivers, not with a plea bargain "forced down their throats." The only thing forced down their throats was the bitter taste of responsibility and accountability. John D. Montgomery Corporal, R.C.M.P. Manitoba Stonewall, Man.

A Tonic for Anti-Semitism

I caught myself laughing out loud at Joel Stein's witty, tongue-in-cheek analysis of Mel Gibson's disgraceful display of anti-Semitism [Aug. 14]. As the world continues to serve up distressing examples of prejudice, racism and bigotry, Stein's column was a wonderful antidote of intelligence, humor and good-natured restraint. What a welcome tonic! Neil Hodgson Regina, Sask.

Stein demonstrates once again his capacity to take any topic and make it his own. In serious times, I must admit to finding his class-clown approach refreshing. We can disagree on matters of taste but not on mathematical precision. Stein stated that Jews make up just 0.02% of the world's population. But 14 million Jews in fact make up 0.2% of its 7 billion people. Perhaps Joel was clowning during math class. Michael Spataro New York City

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