Letters

LEAKING WITH A VENGEANCE

Your article provided a thorough look at the leak that led to the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame [NATION, Oct. 13], the wife of Joseph Wilson, whose investigation found there was no attempt by Iraq to buy uranium in Niger. Some say the Democrats need to appear nonpartisan and temper their rightful outrage, but in truth it is up to the Republicans to demand a special prosecutor to investigate this serious matter. After all, Plame's role was to track any person or nation that might provide weapons of mass destruction to terrorists, something that is supposedly the Bush Administration's top priority. FRANCES SAMPSON Oak Park, Ill.

The leaking of Plame's identity as a CIA operative was terrible. The culprit should be found and hanged. Her husband, Ambassador Joseph Wilson, however, could easily have predicted the consequences of accusing the Administration of exaggerating the Iraqi threat, as Wilson did in his op-ed piece in the New York Times. Wilson had a responsibility to consider the Administration's probable response and to put aside his own agenda in order to protect his wife and the mother of his children. Wilson is every bit as despicable as the leaker. No man should risk the well-being of his family. MARGE BURTON Hulbert, Okla.

What about the responsibilities of conservative columnist Robert Novak relating to this serious breach of ethics? As you noted, he disclosed Plame's identity in his column, but Novak's role as a possible tool of the Administration's shameless vindictiveness over its flawed war rationale should not be overlooked. Not only must the leakers inside the Administration be flushed out and brought to justice for breaking the law and compromising national security, but Novak's motives and ethics should also be scrutinized. STEPHEN CHARING Clarksville, Md.

This is a tempest in a teapot. Wilson is a rabid leftist who is out to destroy the President. It's as simple as that. LARRY PARRISH Ballwin, Mo.

We need to know soon who in the administration outed Plame in retaliation against her husband. If we don't find out, the ongoing mystery will be the proverbial cancer on this presidency. Bush, whether he was sincere or not, belatedly called on those inside and outside his Administration, including the journalists who were targeted by the leakers, to come forward with any pertinent information. This is one of the rare cases in which the public's need to know trumps reporters' promises of confidentiality to their sources. Novak, the only reporter to reveal Plame's name, should spill the beans. And if Novak won't talk, then someone else should. ROBERT ANDERSON Los Angeles

So the Bush Administration is going to investigate itself to find out who leaked? Sure, and I'm going to invite a wolf over tonight to guard my henhouse. DON CRISP Saltville, Va.

What Novak and his sources did was treasonous. Revealing the identity of a covert CIA officer is just as harmful as publishing troop movements. The leakers should all go to jail. It was disgusting, intolerable behavior. Americans at the polls in 2004 should hold Bush accountable for the acts of his subordinates. STEPHEN LEE Glenview, Ill.

FURY ON THE LEFT

Michael Kinsley's commentary "Why Bush Angers Liberals" only added fuel to the polarizing fires [ESSAY, Oct. 13]. The reason liberals are enraged at Bush is that they remain in constant campaign mode, harping on a stolen election and President Bush's stupidity and dishonesty. It's all hatred of Bush. Our culture needs to take a break from campaigns long enough for the free exchange of ideas. Abraham Lincoln asked that the nation proceed "with malice toward none" after the Civil War ended. I wish liberals were capable of acting like that. JOEL MARK SOLLIDAY Brooklyn Park, Minn.

Our anger at the Bush presidency goes much deeper than policy or personality. We are furious at how this Administration has exploited the grief, fear and patriotism of the American people for political and financial gain. Our nation has been plunged into war under false pretenses, our young people in uniform are being needlessly sacrificed, and our grandchildren will be forced to foot the bill. The question should be, Why aren't more people angry? MARTIN LOLICH Downers Grove, Ill.

TO CUT AND RUN IN IRAQ?

Columnist Joe Klein in "A Rush to War--Now a Rush Out of One?" stated that "in the heat of an election ... one wonders whether the Democrats will resist the easy demagoguery of a Bring 'Em Home Now campaign" [IN THE ARENA, Oct. 13]. Maybe Klein wonders, but if Howard Dean becomes the Democratic nominee, as I believe he will, we already know his position. He has stated unambiguously and repeatedly that since we are now engaged in Iraq, we have an obligation to stay until that country is on its feet. Klein can stop wondering or at least give equal time to speculation that the Bush Administration may adopt a cut-and-run policy in a desperate attempt to rescue the election. ALAN BARBOUR Fresno, Calif.

Klein quoted a Bush Administration official who said, "We have a moral responsibility to leave Iraq better than we found it." Was that person referring to how we found it before or after the bombing? Before or after the still undisclosed number of civilian deaths and rising count of American casualties? With more patience, diplomacy and forethought than this Administration is capable of, that feat could have been accomplished without destroying the nation we liberated and bankrupting our own. One can only hope that voters will ask the same question next November: Are we better now than when George W. Bush found us? JERILYN DEPETE Stroudsburg, Pa.

CREDIBILITY GAP

Your article "Chasing a Mirage," ON the search for Iraq's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) [IRAQ: THE MISSING WEAPONS, Oct. 6], quoted Hans Blix, "You can put up a sign on your door, BEWARE OF THE DOG, without having a dog." Too true. Of course, you can also break into a house knowing full well there is no dog, make off with the valuables or oil reserves, continue to hotly pursue the phantom dog and rationalize your way out the front door. Does that sound too conspiratorial? AVAN JESIA Bombay

The U.S. pre-emptively invaded Iraq, claiming it had WMD that posed a threat to U.S. security. What will happen if the U.S. is never able to find these weapons? After thousands of lives have been lost, the Bush Administration won't be able to justify the invasion of Iraq. Who will take moral, legal and financial responsibility for the American troops, Iraqi soldiers and civilians who died in Gulf War II? Who will make George W. Bush and his Administration face the charges? Which court will have the guts to judge them? ANTHONY VAN NAUSSEN Hong Kong

Bush talks of Saddam Hussein's deceiving the world, but it is Bush who has misled us. After months of searching, no biological, chemical or nuclear weapons have been found to bolster Bush's central case for going to war. The WMD didn't exist. It is too bad that American troops are paying the price for Bush's arrogance. The superpower's leader may have power but not brains. The world hopes that Bush is not still President after November 2004. IAN M. DUFF Everett, Ont.

Each member of the Bush Administration seems to agree on one thing: Don't confuse me with the facts. Only two good things will result from the fiasco perpetrated by the Administration in Iraq. First, the policy of pre-emptive war has been unmasked as folly. Second, the Democrats might actually have a chance of winning next year. WILLIAM W.B. VEALE Sao Paulo

President Bush lied to the American people in justifying the war. He trashed the principles for which the U.S. stands. But Bush walks free, runs a presidential campaign and enjoys the support of a large part of the U.S. population. I can't understand how this is possible. DANY BURIGANA La Teste de Buch, France

THE BILLION-DOLLAR HANDOUT

I salute Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele for their ongoing and aggressive exposure of America's abysmal energy policies [BUSINESS, Oct. 13]. Synthetic fuel is a billion-dollar-a-year corporate tax dodge in the U.S. while it is a viable industry in Canada. That the U.S. has ample resources to produce synfuel instead of importing it from Canada is a national embarrassment. I hope voters, taxpayers and politicians are paying attention. This is an issue that should be in the forefront of the 2004 campaign. MATTHEW R. BRADLEY Bethel, Conn.

You called the synfuels tax credit a "$1 billion annual gift to U.S. businesses." The taxpayer foots the bill, while the beneficiaries are the owners of the coal-processing plants who are in the business only for the tax credits, not to reduce America's dependence on foreign energy. This wasteful program is certainly not helping the legitimate coal industry. Canada, with initial government support, has created a legitimate synthetic-fuels industry that has become one of the largest crude-oil producers in North America. There are extensive oil-shale deposits in northeastern Utah that could be developed by strip mining. If $1 billion a year were spent on supporting the development of this resource, the U.S. could have another major source of crude oil. The necessary technology has been developed by Canada. When will our elected government officials stop pandering to the special interests? RUSSELL F. STOLL Green Valley, Ariz.

Why doesn't Congress rescind this insidious tax break for manufacturing filthy fuels that pollute our air and scar our land? Our use of 19th century energy sources that damage our environment is a true embarrassment. DIANE MARIE ANGER Boca Raton, Fla.

CHAOS IN CHECHNYA

Paul Quinn-Judge's report on the ongoing war in Chechnya was insightful [WORLD, Oct. 13]. For all Russian President Vladimir Putin's efforts to conflate Russia's bloody quagmire in Chechnya with America's global struggle against terrorism, the truth was made abundantly clear in Quinn-Judge's article. Chechnya is truly a forgotten heart of darkness, and its people are suffering the gravest crimes against humanity. The localized Chechen conflict has dynamics that are unrelated to al-Qaeda's terrorist struggle against the West. Thank you for reminding us of the Chechens, who seem to have been forgotten by the West. BRIAN GLYN WILLIAMS Somerville, Mass.

THE POP STAR WHO REFRESHES

Thank you for the even-handed article about Clay Aiken [MUSIC, Oct. 13], a young singer who doesn't fit the mold of someone the record industry believes should be popular. Aiken is refreshing to listen to. He is articulate and humble, two attributes lacking in most young, prefabricated pop stars. I like his style, and I'm looking forward to seeing him around for a long time. CHERYL RILEY Rochester, N.Y.

A lot of people just don't get Aiken, but there are millions who do, and they could be the ones to change the music industry. Just imagine: someone with an amazing voice singing lyrics you can actually understand. What a concept! SUSAN GOULD Metairie, La.

NO MORE MONKEY BUSINESS

Your item "Cheetah, you ought to be Out of Pictures" [NOTEBOOK, Oct. 13], on primatologist Jane Goodall's efforts to stop the use of actor-chimpanzees on TV and in movies, came at the perfect time. With the news of a tiger that was kept in a New York City apartment and the mauling of Las Vegas showman Roy Horn, people are finally understanding that wild animals belong in their natural environments. People who travel to Africa can see these beautiful animals in their own territory. The only thing sadder than a wild animal in captivity is one trained to perform for our entertainment. PATTI BREITMAN Fairfax, Calif.

Why do we allow animals to be trained to perform in commercials? It is wrong to steal baby animals from their mothers and put them onstage, in cages or in laboratories. DARRELL DAVIS Hampton, Va.