President Bush and Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad could be twins in disguise. Both are religious fanatics. Both value faith over facts. Both love war and hate homosexuals. Both are unpopular in their respective countries: in fact, it’s hard to gauge which man is more unpopular. Ironically, these two leaders depend—or rather, codepend—on each other. Bush keeps threatening Iran to cover up the massive failure of his Iraq policy. It is interesting that his administration leaked the identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame—she was monitoring Iran’s nuclear threat before she was outed. Ahmadinejad, on the other hand, uses Bush’s threat to attack Iran as a means of bolstering his own political support. Without Bush, Ahmadinejad would be nothing. It’s tragic that the world is being held hostage by two madmen. William Joseph Miller via internet
China’s New Leadership Role Yes, it is now time for china to rethink and redraft its role in the world (“China Above the Law,” Feb. 19). It would represent a drastic departure from its deep-seated tradition of not defining an international role for itself. As China now grows in power and influence, so do expectations that it will use its positive leverage to help resolve some of the issues facing the international community. Wherever it can, China should lend a helping hand or play a leading role. It has already shown leadership in seeking a solution to the North Korean nuclear issue. It’s time now for China to broaden its international responsibilities. En Li Leidschendam, Netherlands
Of Castro and Chávez I really appreciated Jorge Castaneda’s report on the ever-growing alliance between Fidel Castro’s Cuba and Hugo Chávez’s Venezuela (“Chávez Lives Castro’s Dream,” Feb. 19). From personal observation, I know how forceful this axis is and how it could turn Central and South American politics on its head. It is high time the United States mustered a good measure of realpolitik in diverting some of its foreign-policy priorities to what happens—and is most likely to occur—on its own doorstep. Not to do so could have dramatic consequences for America’s and the Western world’s future. Karl H. Pagac Villeneuve-Loubet, France
Undoubtedly, your writers and editors received a good education and they have health insurance. So, why do they mock Hugo Chávez for offering the same to the poor? Please check your facts: capitalism is alive and well in Venezuela and so are education and health care for the poor. Nancy Terrell via internet
An Inconvient, Inevitable Truth? So, Fareed Zakaria thinks we should just get used to global warming (“Global Warming: Get Used to It,” Feb. 19)? What does he consider “adaptation”? What will happen to the millions of people in the Netherlands or Bangladesh, who live at about sea level? What will happen to Florida? While New York might remain unsubmerged, its network of subways would not. What will happen to India if the glaciers in the Himalayas melt and shrink? Or, what will happen to California’s agriculture industry and water supply if the Sierra Nevada Mountains become drier? I’m touching on only a few of the scenarios that could happen if we do nothing to counteract the effects of global warming. Most scientists predict consequences that are worse—much worse. Zakaria was wrong about the Iraq War. He’s wrong now. William Joseph Miller via internet
Africa’s New Energy Source The article referring to Jatropha Curcas as the Cinderella plant (Feb. 19) is timely and interesting. Here are some additional facts about this plant. It could be readily propagated from stem cuttings, which come to bear much earlier than the ones raised from seeds. In addition to harvesting and using its seeds to produce oil, it could be used to fight desertification in dry areas and as a support for vanilla vines in humid regions. Unlike corn and sugarcane, which are used for ethanol production, Jatropha requires minimal upkeep and does not require yearly planting as it is a perennial and could survive up to 50 years with one planting. The absence of pests and diseases is another advantage. And “cake” produced as a byproduct after oil extraction is an excellent fertilizer for vegetable and fruit crops. Because it is a tropical plant, it is a boon that will lift the livelihoods of poor people in Africa and Asia. The European Union has been forced to assist these poor countries to obtain environmentally safe biofuel that can be used in motor vehicles by 2010. Above all, Jatropha may be able to achieve democratization of many countries in the world by reducing the price of fossil fuels—a dream of many and a failure of a few who tried to achieve this by force. I hope it won’t just be Africa that will be the next Middle East, as mentioned in the article, but the whole of the tropical world—including Asia and Latin America. R. Muniappan Yona, Guam
No Celebrating Ashoura I take exception to the insensitive wording used in the caption accompanying a photograph of self-flagellating Shiites in “Iran’s Meddling in Iraq,” (Feb. 12). These men are not “celebrating”—they are mourning, and punishing themselves severely for the death of Imam Hussein in A.D. 680. Hussein’s followers believe his death could have been avoided if they’d acted with greater unity at the time. For Shiites, “Ashoura” is a collective expression of regret. There are passion plays, sorrowful processions and outpourings of grief. Ashoura is just one event in the Islamic month of Muharram. During this month, all Muslims remember events from the lives of Adam, Nuh (Noah), Ibrahim (Abraham), Ayyub (Job), Musa (Moses) and Isa (Jesus). Why don’t we pay more attention to these commonalities between faiths—something worth celebrating? Pauline Bunce Hong Kong
Gaming in Malta In “morality vs. money” (Jan. 8), Silvia Spring writes that Britain cannot compete “with places like Malta, where regulations are loose and the taxes are as low as 4.17 percent.” While the tax rate may be attractive, it’s not the main reason that online gambling operators are flocking to Malta—taxes are much lower in other jurisdictions. Malta provides credibility to their operation: it is the only country in the EU to actually have specifically enacted laws regulating remote gaming. Some key controls that make Maltese regulations stricter than most state monopolies: authorities screen all applicants to ensure that no criminal or terrorist elements are involved. Operators have to implement their own anti-money-laundering procedures. Every Web site contains player-protection content such as responsible gaming links, ability to self-exclude and place limits on bets and losses, company contact information, game rules and terms and conditions. Every operator must hold a “client account” with a bank in which the equivalent of all players’ balances must be deposited. Finally, the operator’s systems and operation must be reviewed by companies accredited by the authority before the full license is issued. If you ask locally licensed operators how “easy” it was to obtain and maintain a license in Malta, none will mention the word “loose.” Alan Alden PR & Communications, Management Board Malta Remote Gaming Council Birkirkara, Malta
Darfur’s Atrocities on Rescuers It’s an unpardonable crime to subject women, members of NGOs employed in Sudan, to inhuman treatment (“The War on the Rescuers,” Jan. 29). The sexual assaults on them might serve the cause of Janjaweed but it would tarnish the well-being of Sudanese people beyond repair. It’s also not clear why Sudanese authorities have turned into mute spectators to atrocities committed upon these rescuers. They need to work in tandem with U.N. officials to bring light not only in the lives of Sudanese people but to also prevent caregivers from becoming the target of derailed minds. Arvind K. Pandey Allahabad, India
Your article “the war on the rescuers” was very interesting because it really shows how misinformed or maybe misguided the international press is regarding the situation in Darfur. I reside in Khartoum, but I’ve been to Darfur a few times and the situation there is beyond catastrophic. We all agree that something needs to be done in an urgent manner—immediately—to help the people of Darfur but the international community is not helping at all. They provide aid and they pressure the Sudanese government; that’s about it. What really needs to be done there by the international community is to put some pressure on the armed rebel groups in order to make them join the peace agreement brokered and drafted by the United Nations and the rest of the international community. Instead, the rebel groups manage to find support and/or a flow of arms and logistics from countries such as the United States, Germany and Israel. A recent report alleges that most of the arms used in the Darfur conflict supposedly come from Israel, and that Israeli arms are responsible for at least 2 million deaths in Africa alone. What did the international community do about that? We in Sudan urge the international community to stop arming the rebel groups not only in Darfur but everywhere else. Please stop the flow of arms into our once peaceful region. With regard to the expulsion of the Norwegian Refugee Council, it was triggered by the NRC’s publishing a report claiming 200 rape incidents in a certain camp. As for Jan Pronk, the United Nations secretary-general’s representative to Sudan: he was declared persona non grata, in view of materials published in his personal blog on the Internet. Pronk is supposed to be a diplomat and represents the U.N.’s secretary-general. Why should he publish diplomatic and sensitive information on the Web? There are restrictions by the United Nations regarding information published by its staff but, unfortunately, these do not apply to the Internet. And I think Pronk took advantage of this loophole to continue his biased behavior toward the people of Sudan. On his Web blog he says, “In order to persuade the movements I told them that, though they might think having won two battles against the Sudanese Armed Forces, the latter would be [capable] of defeating them, because the government was mobilizing new forces, coming from Southern Sudan. The government was also incorporating Janjaweed and militia into the paramilitary Popular Defence Forces.” This statement shows that he was not acting impartially as a U.N. representative should, and the government, by declaring him persona non grata, was acting within international diplomatic conventions and customs. After all, he is just a diplomat, not the governor general of Sudan. Most of the people I know in Sudan think that Pronk was acting in favor of the rebel groups. I’m not a fan of our government but the way the international community is treating the rebel groups made me, and many others like me, rally behind the government despite the differences. Osman Mekki Khartoum, Sudan
No-Frill Flights “Low cost, long hop” (Jan. 29) gives an insight into the much-talked-about no-frill flights. Like Air Asia in South-east Asia, Europe and China, India has an airline (Air Deccan) that offers cheap flying in its domestic sector. In Indian airports, tellingly, one notices travelers rushing as though they are in railway stations and many are first-time fliers. Onboard, they seem comfortable with the “easy to deal with” crew who sell things as if they are selling on streets. This is the way it should be even for international fliers: all meals and drinks at passengers’ cost, no wet tissues, no music or video shows for passengers on flights that are less than five hours. Let the crew stay at budget hotels and let the parking cost for airplanes be standardized internationally. This way, the flight ticket cost can be further reduced. Most people today want flights sans luxury but with more convenience in terms of connectivity between airports in a more flexible manner. Suresh K. Parappurath Bangalore, India
Doctors and Hormones In “the new prime time,” (Jan. 22), you say, “A decade ago, women were routinely urged to take hormones,” and the negative results of the Women’s Health Initiative study “shocked millions of women who were taking hormones.” No, it’s that women were routinely given hormones by doctors who are now shocked. Edward Stephens Syracuse, New York
A Plea for Diplomacy A troop surge in Iraq is not necessarily a tragic mistake, but the exclusion of Iran and Syria in the collaboration to stabilize Iraq certainly is (" ‘Surge’ Strategy," Jan. 8). How can the Bush administration ignore the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group? From the reception the Iraqi president received during his visit to Iran, it would seem that Iran recognizes his government. Further diplomacy could obtain the recognition of both Iran and Syria without too much difficulty. A military boost may help with security in the short term, but the ultimate solution will come only through diplomacy. Chan Hintung Hong Kong
Americans nearly impeached President Richard Nixon because he was implicated in a bungled theft of political material. They did impeach President Bill Clinton for a sexual indiscretion. Now President Bush is defying the world by illegally invading Iraq, without U.N. sanction, for phony WMD and antiterrorist charges, causing the deaths of 100,000 Iraqis and 3,000 Americans, and threatening to destabilize the Middle East by spreading the conflict to Iran. Is he fit to continue as president and commander in chief? If America seeks to provide leadership in a troubled world, it should impeach Bush by trying him for war crimes. It should apologize and make restitution to the people of Iraq. Jim Poushinsky Ottawa, Canada
Bolton’s Handicap Your story “And Now Come the Realists?” made very enlightening reading (Dec. 18). Analyzing why John Bolton was unacceptable as the U.S. representative to the United Nations and what made him resign, Denis MacShane points out: “The problem was not blunt language; it was his gift for making enemies out of allies.” So Condoleezza Rice must now wait in the queue behind middle-ranking European envoys to see Middle East leaders whom she can neither threaten nor seduce because she has nothing to offer. Even President Bush is rebuffed by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who canceled their meeting. Thanks to Iraq, America is now nothing but a paper tiger. M. Saleem Chaudhry Karachi, Pakistan
India’s Information Act The Right To Information Act is one of the miracles of Indian democracy, as you pointed out in “The Paper Chase” (Dec. 18). That government officials can be held responsible for their actions should serve as a lesson to those Indians who, coveting China’s economic growth, wish for authoritarian rule. Can a Chinese national ever ask his government uncomfortable questions without fear? Indians should be grateful that they live in a free country, with civil liberties and the right to question, even criticize, the seniormost government official without fear. J. Shankaranarayanan Hyderabad, India
The Most Dangerous Man? I understand that Moqtada al-Sadr is responsible at least in part for the current chaotic situation in Iraq (“The Most Dangerous Man in Iraq,” Dec. 4). And I agree with your writers that the United States should not have underestimated him in the earlier stages of the war. But I also think Americans should not overestimate him, either. Removing al-Sadr from the scene would not lead to a solution for the problems in Iraq: after all, neither the capture of Saddam Hussein nor the death of Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi improved Iraqi security at all. Kyoichi Kunimi Fujisawa City, Japan
The most dangerous man in Iraq is certainly not the man pictured on NEWSWEEK’s Dec. 4 cover—Moqtada al-Sadr. I believe that President Bush and his gang are the most hated people on earth today. Many people consider President Bush a coldblooded war criminal who has committed crimes against humanity. During the American occupation of Iraq—I would not call it “liberation”—three times more innocent Iraqis have been murdered than during the whole of Saddam’s time. Talk about ethnic cleansing—the United States is an expert on that. M. Petridis Athens, Greece
