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The War This Time

In "Why Are We in Libya?" Fareed Zakaria has deftly explained the dilemma faced by the U.S. Administration [April 4]. To go the whole hog or not--that is the question. If the aim is indeed to topple Muammar Gaddafi, the halfhearted action initiated by President Obama won't do. Gaddafi is too well entrenched. A massive, concerted effort by the U.S. and its allies will be required to rid Libya of Gaddafi, which is not only of strategic but also of humanitarian interest. Obama's role as the leader of the free world demands that he pull out all the stops in pursuit of the noble mission of toppling Gaddafi.

Ajit Parihar, LUDHIANA, INDIA

We are now in another war, and more U.S. forces are at risk. I am appalled at President Obama's decision. When the President went to Dover Air Force Base and saw the coffins of the war dead coming home from Afghanistan, I thought, Gee, this guy really gets it! Apparently that was just another photo op.

Troy W. Deckard, BEDFORD, IND.

President Obama walks through a political minefield with every decision he makes. He can barely breathe without some blowhard critiquing his inhalation technique. Time is on his side, however. He is one of the most logical practitioners ever to sit in the Oval Office.

Fred Pittenger, GRAND JUNCTION, COLO.

Guns and Grief

Patti Davis' Viewpoint on the attempted murder of her father is a wonderful piece about the love for family--and an indictment of the criminal-justice system ["Freedom Is Too Good for Hinckley," April 4]. As the victim of a serious crime that occurred when I was 14 years old, I--and my family--have had the same pains and other feelings that all other crime victims will forever have. While criminals like John Hinckley Jr. are allowed out of prison because they have completed their sentences, their victims will continue to serve lifetime sentences of physical pain, fear and lost dreams.

Randy Saucedo, DENVER

How disappointing to see TIME publish Davis' mean-spirited and classist diatribe against Hinckley. She takes a tragedy that involved mental illness, easy access to guns and the devastation of multiple families (including Hinckley's) and reduces it to the vilification of Hinckley and even his girlfriends. Davis finds the former too pampered, the latter too low class. Nothing in this essay made a cogent argument about the real issues of this case: crime, punishment, culpability and mental illness.

Jeanne A.K. Hey, OXFORD, OHIO

Let's Share the Burden

I'm a Democrat most of the time, but I think the Republicans are right about streamlining entitlement spending ["The Debt Dilemma," April 4]. Changes to the Social Security system could be put into effect if targeted at those in their 20s and 30s, who would have enough time to change their investments. Those over 40 would not have time to recoup the difference if benefits were cut.

Lori Iniguez, TWIN FALLS, IDAHO