Letters

America's Obesity Crisis

"There is something wrong in the world when other countries are starving while we Americans are eating ourselves to death." KRISTINA VITEK Tampa, Fla.

Thank you for the comprehensive articles on the epidemic of obesity in the U.S. [June 7]. It is only to be expected that we should become a nation of overweight people; after all, from childhood we are taught to consume as much as possible. If it weren't for voracious consumers, our economy would be in trouble. Clearly, too many of us believe that a little is good, more is better and too much is just enough. CHARLES J. HUEBNER Petoskey, Mich.

You quoted molecular geneticist Dr. Jeffrey Friedman as saying "there are genes in the population that predispose to obesity." Genetics may be a factor, but there are people in many other countries who have the same genes as Americans but not the same problems. Maybe our habit of blaming others, faulting our ancestors or suing McDonald's--instead of admitting that obesity is our problem and we must fix it--is what made us fat in the first place. DOUG FARQUHAR Washington

In the U.S. fewer than 5,000 Americans have died as a result of terrorist-related activity, whereas 300,000 obesity-related deaths occur each year in this country, according to the Surgeon General's estimates. But while we have declared war on terrorism, we have directed few resources toward identifying the "evildoers" within our borders who are complicit in this appalling death rate. What will it take for the government to declare war on obesity? THOMAS A. ANDERSON Sun City, Ariz.

Why is America getting fat? Because this is the country of drive-through everything. But we shouldn't blame fast-food restaurants, nor should the government get involved and tell us what we cannot eat. Common sense is the answer. Instead of driving to the nearest grocery store, take a walk. America has bigger issues to worry about. DANA SAWYER Williamsport, Pa.

The last thing we need is more laws, more bureaucracy and more lawsuits in the name of reducing obesity. We need to hold individuals responsible for their own actions, including overeating. How can we ever hope to solve our problems if nothing is ever our fault? DENNIS SKINDER Chicago

I disagree with the experts who blame obesity on everything from our caveman mentality to our survival instinct. We didn't evolve into tubs of lard in one generation. For too long we've been feeding our kids prepackaged garbage instead of meals. It is no wonder we are fat. Instead of relying on the false promises of every fad and unhealthy diet out there, I suggest Americans stick to eating in moderation and exercising regularly. TIM J. WATT Harpswell, Maine

Blubber has become a national health scandal. Obviously, the culprits are fattening fast food, working moms and a decline in intramural sports in school, plus hours of staring at TVs and computers. You reported that 80% of children played sports every day in 1969 while only 20% do so today. Athletic directors, head coaches and platoons of assistants should be enlisted to activate physical-education programs that leave no child behind in rigorous exercise. JOHN A. VANDERFORD Jacksonville, Ala.

Here's to the New Boss

Your article on U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi [June 7] reported that he compromised with members of the Iraqi Governing Council to select Iyad Allawi, a man also favored by U.S. officials, as the country's interim Prime Minister. That is absolutely incredible. Allawi, like the discredited Ahmad Chalabi, had lived outside Iraq for decades; he was a Baath Party member and a CIA employee. How likely is it that he will be viewed by the Iraqi public as having credibility? When will the Bush Administration learn from its past mistakes? JACK KINSTLINGER Hunt Valley, Md.

Fall from Grace

Re your coverage of the controversy surrounding Ahmad Chalabi, a member of the Iraqi Governing Council and a former U.S. ally [June 7]: The Bush Administration neoconservatives should be fired for their support of Chalabi, who misled American leaders into attacking Iraq. Your story quoted Richard Perle, a Bush defense adviser, who stated that "the CIA has concocted a case against" Chalabi. But he is being investigated for telling an Iranian spy about our having broken an Iranian secret code, a serious charge. Who revealed classified information to Chalabi, and will those people be fired? Or will Bush, as usual, not hold them accountable for their mistakes? JOHN WISDOM DANCER Canoga Park, Calif.

After embracing Chalabi as the potential leader of the new Iraq, we have discovered the ways in which he may have been working against us. Chalabi's disinformation helped persuade Bush to attack Iraq. I commend the President for his courage in disowning one who sat in the presidential box during the January 2004 State of the Union message. I don't envy the decisions our President has to make, but I admire his willingness to move beyond some of the earlier errors in this whole enterprise. WILLIAM A. MCCARTNEY Delaware, Ohio

Could the timing of Chalabi's very public downfall be mere coincidence? It seems likely that the timing was determined by Bush's political handlers to make it appear that Chalabi and the Iraqi National Congress were to blame for drawing us into this ill-advised war. If that is their game, it will not work. Chalabi clearly had interests of his own to promote, but the Bush Administration was not without resources to verify the bogus information he provided. If it points to Chalabi as the source of our misfortune, the Administration will only reveal new depths of incompetence in dealing with the post-9/11 world. PETER S. MARSHALL Bellevue, Wash.

The Business of War

Re "The Master Builder" [June 7]: it is astonishing how closely intertwined Halliburton, the biggest contractor in Iraq, and the Pentagon are. Wherever the military goes, Halliburton seems to be perched on its shoulder to scavenge profits from the rubble of war. And as if Halliburton's mission weren't unsavory enough, ex-employees intimate that the company has been gorging itself on taxpayer dollars via inefficient no-bid contracts. The Pentagon needs to dissociate itself from this bloated vulture ASAP. ULYSSES LATEINER Somerville, Mass.

Your reporting raised serious questions about why the U.S. went to war in Iraq. Vice President Dick Cheney was an early and staunch advocate for the invasion. Then Halliburton, his former company, was given a huge no-bid contract to rebuild Iraq and run the oil fields. No wonder most of the world is appalled by what we are doing there. No wonder 50% of Americans are disgusted and angry with what Bush has done to Iraq. The only wonder is why the other 50% think he is doing O.K. D. ALAN CACCIA Honokaa, Hawaii

Saudi Connections

In his report on Michael Moore's film Fahrenheit 9/11, Richard Corliss provided a good account of its presentation at the Cannes Film Festival [May 31]. But he incorrectly described the flights transporting members of the bin Laden family, who were Saudis, out of the country after 9/11. Corliss wrote that "in the dire days after 9/11, when U.S. flights were grounded, two dozen of Osama bin Laden's relatives were flown out of the country without the FBI being allowed to question them." The film does not claim that these flights from the U.S. took place while others were grounded or that there was no questioning at all by the FBI. Rather, as is amply supported by the evidence, the family members were part of a large group of Saudis allowed to leave the country in the days following 9/11. The interviews conducted by the FBI at the time has led some terrorism experts, including one portrayed in Fahrenheit 9/11, to raise questions about the handling of these individuals as appropriate law-enforcement procedure. TIA LESSIN, SUPERVISING PRODUCER Fahrenheit 9/11 New York City

Pistol-Packin' President

In "A Saddam Souvenir," you reported that President Bush is keeping in the White House the pistol that Saddam was clutching when he was captured [June 7]. There is something incredibly disturbing and distasteful about the President's proudly showing off such spoils of war. His pride in displaying Saddam's gun is further proof that this war was part personal vendetta. DONNA ROCHESTER Tucson, Ariz.