Ensuring Human Values Takes Time and Effort

Robert Scheer ends his Nov. 27 commentary, “U.S. Can’t Just Hit and Run,” with this admonishment: that we must ensure “human rights” in Afghanistan, “fair trials” and a “peaceful government” that “respects . . . the rights of all Afghans.”

Unfortunately for our attempts at nation-building, all these ideals were won over many centuries of hard struggle, war and sacrifice in the Western world. Only by spending a thousand years experimenting with the alternatives have we arrived at where we are today.

And still we struggle with accepting these values in our hearts, with extremists of left and right ever ready to trash them. Should we expect any greater speed from other countries in this world?

Maude Ham

Burbank

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Re “War on Terror: What Next?” editorial, Nov. 27:

You ask what price, fiscal and human, we are willing to pay to expand the war on terrorism. You have it backward. What price are we willing to pay, fiscal and human, for not expanding the war?

We have already suffered over 4,000 deaths and billions of dollars in economic losses at the hands of the terrorists. We must have the courage to expand the war to prevent other terrorist attacks in the future. President Bush has my full support as well as the support of millions of Americans.

William Waldman

Calabasas

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Amazing how cruise missiles, stealth bombers, precision bombs, fighter jets and aircraft carriers can win a war against a Stone Age people who use donkeys for transport and pea-shooters as weapons. Notch another tough victory for America. Notch another feather for a Bush. The next time we fight a war the enemy might have potatoes to throw at us. What will Bush do then?

Ron Kryngel

Clovis

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Regarding your Nov. 29 photo of the bodies of Taliban POWs: Is it absolutely necessary to have full-color photos of body parts on the front page?

Karen Morgan

Morro Bay