Letters

Why Can't We Catch bin Laden?

How soon will it be before Osama bin Laden strikes again? Let's forget Iraq and focus on getting him before he gets us. Karl McNish St. Petersburg, Fla.

It should come as no great surprise to anyone that the U.S. has been unable to catch Osama bin Laden [WORLD, Nov. 25]. It took 17 years to catch the Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski; 23 and 27 years, respectively, to catch Kathleen Soliah and James Kilgore of the Symbionese Liberation Army; and for six years and counting, Eric Rudolph, the alleged '96 Atlanta Olympics bomber, has been at large, happily grilling venison burgers deep in the backwoods of our own backyard. Stephen Phillips Narberth, Pa.

Why don't we double the reward for bin Laden and add an offer of citizenship in the U.S. or a country of one's choosing? It would be cheaper than trying to get him through the means we are using now. We should also use more methods to spread the word about the reward. He is probably hiding among people who don't know what a scoundrel he is. Robert King Normal, Ill.

I believe that bin Laden is dead. but as long as the American people think he is still alive, they are nervous and motivated to keep up the fight. For this reason, the government will not tell us whether he is dead. Michael Trovato East Brunswick, N.J.

Each release of an audio-or videotape alleged to be of bin Laden alerts the intelligence communities of the world to an impending assault. Security forces increase their vigilance, intelligence communities go on red alert, and local citizens become more safety conscious. Any possible terrorist activity will automatically be more difficult to accomplish after an advance warning has been given. So why would a terrorist want to give us advance warning? I am not convinced for a moment that these tapes are authentic. I believe they are designed to keep the flames of Western paranoia burning brightly, so that the U.S. juggernaut to destroy Iraq can be kept on schedule. Ken Bobrosky Istanbul

We can't catch bin Laden because he has built a wall of friends around himself. In contrast, America is building a wall of enemies. For example, after receiving a message of sympathy from Iran about Sept. 11, we declared that country part of the "axis of evil." Michael A. Brown Columbia, Md.

I am perplexed that we never suggest the most likely hideout for bin Laden--Saudi Arabia. Where do you go when there is no place left to go? You go home! His rich family has the financial ability and the political influence to protect him. He could easily exist there without our knowledge. George Merriweather Ojai, Calif.

Bin Laden would have been caught ages ago if media and government leaks did not warn him and his followers of every strategy the allies are using to try to catch him. Breaking the Enigma code in World War II contributed massively to the success of the campaign against Germany and significantly shortened the fighting. This was a success only because the media did not hear of the code or announce that it had been broken. The Germans never knew any of this until after the war was over. Does anybody believe that an equivalent secret could be kept today? Nicholas Boote London

The capture or killing of bin Laden may lead to acts of retribution. It is naive to think that his death would end the war on terrorism. That will end only when people around the world start to recognize and respect one another's values and beliefs. Jeff Price Aurora, Colo.

"St. Anthony, St. Anthony, please come around, bin Laden's been lost and must be found." This isn't the prayer a lot of us remember, but St. Anthony helps me find my keys and wedding ring and just about everything else a distracted mother of three misplaces. Why can't he find a terrorist? Given the saint's track record, I give Osama about a week. Kim McCarthy Los Angeles

--Several readers were concerned that the cover image of bin Laden's faded visage floating in a field of white might convey something other than his uncanny elusiveness. "Maybe you were trying to suggest a ghostly image," granted one woman, "but, in fact, the cover gives a very heavenly, angelic appearance to this monster." "The background should have been red and yellow," suggested an upstate New York reader, "to symbolize the blood of thousands of innocent victims and the fire of hatred he has ignited among his followers." And a Massachusetts woman felt an urge known to so many schoolchildren: "At least you could have added horns and a pitchfork!"

Resuming Inspections

"To Catch A Cheat" paints an optimistic picture of U.N. weapons inspections in Iraq, owing to new tools of detection [WORLD, Nov. 25]. But discovering nuclear material will still be like finding a needle in a haystack. Sending in a dozen U.N. inspectors to search a potential 700 weapons-production and -storage sites spread throughout Iraq doesn't seem too promising. Saddam Hussein wouldn't let us in if he didn't think he could keep us from finding his illegal armaments. Jesse Murray Emporia, Kans.

By the time the inspectors begin their work, Iraqi technicians and scientists will probably have already made an end run around them. The inspections will be moot before they even start. What a laughable game the U.N. loves to play, to give Saddam the benefit of the doubt. As for producing a list of his weapons, has anybody heard of fudging? Mike Martinez Lakeland, Minn.

It is inconceivable that Saddam would have voluntarily disarmed subsequent to the weapons inspectors' departure from Iraq four years ago. This dictator bullyboy has needed weapons of fear for his political survival. Leopards don't change their spots! Stewart Caro Cardiff, Wales

The impending war in Iraq is a feeble attempt to divert the attention of Americans from the failure in Afghanistan. Haven't we seen enough blood, tears and violence? Bullying is the only attitude that America's President can display to the world. Boasting is his most prominent means of expression. The greatness of a nation starts with the greatness, justice and magnanimity of its leaders, not with their intimidating bully-like behavior. Arturo Abbiati Milan

Is Al Still a Contender?

Your insightful article on Al Gore's re-emergence suggests that the real Al is finally coming through [Nation, Nov. 25]. It is a shame that political campaigns have become such media circuses that politicians feel they have to rely on handlers and cannot speak out truthfully on the issues. If Gore sticks to what he believes in and honestly addresses Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy, his disastrous economic policy and his warmongering, he will certainly have my support. Mary Bagwell Atlanta

Your headline was "The Making Of A Comeback," but it should have been "The Warming Up of Leftovers." Debra Wuensche Edmond, Okla.

After weeks of listening to Bush's war chanting and the top Democrats' indecisive quibbling, I had almost given up hope. Then along came Gore, and my apathy was replaced with relief. Finally, a politician with the guts to tell it like it is. Not only do the Democrats need to put him at the top of their ticket, but the nation should also thank him for saying what every politician was afraid to say for fear of looking unpatriotic: Bush's foreign policy is "a recipe for getting our country in some of the worst trouble it has ever been in." Jennifer Loman Chico, Calif.

Syndrome of the Moment

Is developmental psychologist Sharon Heller serious about sensory defensive (SD) disorder [HEALTH, Nov. 25]? She postulates that a person who finds tickling clothes tags irritating, blinking icons on a computer screen distracting and car alarms disturbing is suffering from this so-called condition. With all due respect, I advise her to get out of the house more often. For thousands of years, humans have naturally developed both positive and negative responses to varied stimuli. I hope Heller will revisit her theory and relabel this disorder as a perfectly normal (PN) condition. Mike Randall Oakville, Ont.

Indecent Disclosure

What does the former butler of Princess Diana, Paul Burrell, hope to accomplish by selling sordid stories that malign the Princess to whom he professed devotion [PRESS, Nov. 25]? The trashy material brought scandal to the royal family and besmirches the reputation of the Princess, who was truly loved by the world. Could Burrell's motive be greed? Princess Diana touched everyone with her charm and compassion, and that is how she should be remembered--not by the words of a servant who betrayed her trust. Helen W. Joffe Hamilton, Ohio

Fur Flies on the Catwalk

Kudos to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for crashing the catwalk at the Victoria's Secret fashion show and taking Gisele Bundchen to task for modeling for a fur company [PEOPLE, Nov. 25]. I guess the Brazilian model is all legs and no heart. Maggie Moore Virginia Beach, Va.

Bundchen deserved to be singled out by PETA as a heartless fur model. Many models refuse to be associated with the cruel fur trade. Those who promote fur are selling animal misery and death when humane alternatives, such as faux fur, abound. Allison Pang Portland, Ore.