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While the world discusses the ethics or lack thereof involved in taking on Iraq, a simple question is being ignored. Forget about the economic motivations; they're a way of life. What course of action would result in the greatest good for the greatest number? The notion that the end justifies the means may be a little simplistic, but the gist is right. While we enjoy the freedoms and relative financial comforts afforded us by our various Western governments, let us not forget that those freedoms were fought for and bought with blood--not by us but by those with enough conviction to heed the call to action and put an end to tyranny. MICHAEL BUNDRED Johannesburg
America is right in wanting to hit Iraq hard and soon. Saddam would delight in launching a nuclear, chemical or biological first strike against the U.S., either by himself or through a third party. As he gets older, Saddam has less to lose, and the threat will increase. Britain is right in supporting the U.S. America is strong, and Britain is strong, but our European cousins are not. They also seem unable to recall that without the U.S. we would not have won World War II. I would like to apologize to America for this collective weakness. Don't call me European. English American suits me far better. Now let's sort out Saddam, with or without our allies. TIM FOSTER Sheffield, England
The End of the Siege
President Vladimir Putin's use of a sedative gas to end the tragic siege of the Moscow theater was disgraceful and inhuman [WORLD, Nov. 11]. For the sake of the hostages, the Russian authorities should have kept talking to the Chechen rebels, to the point of agreeing to their demands, even if promises would later be broken. Putin should never have decided to take the drastic step of using a potentially lethal gas and risking so many innocent lives. He should not still be in office. I fail to understand how anyone could congratulate Putin for his heartless decision. MARGARITA HOLT SAUVALLE Valencia, Spain
Instead of questioning whether it was legal for the Russian forces to use gas in ending the Moscow theater standoff, people should question the legality of the Chechen terrorists' action. A free world should not care what was used to get rid of a bunch of assassins and save the vast majority of nearly 800 hostages, though some 130 of those hostages were killed. Fighting terrorism requires guts and the use of every possible means. Terrorism is a disease that has to be attacked from every conceivable angle. JOSE LUIS BELMAR Stockholm
Islamic fundamentalist groups are pursuing their own agenda, at their own pace and for their own reasons. Their goal is to establish fundamentalist states, whether in Chechnya or Southeast Asia. It is in the national interest of the Russians, faced with such a purpose, to stop being a source of weapons for Iraq. It is time for them to drop their rivalry with the U.S. and get serious about peace. TOM MINCHIN Melbourne
Three Strikes for Theft