Suspend the Bombing, Let the Afghans Talk

I was a navigator in the 8th Air Force in World War II, and when we got to London I saw the damage from German bombs and rockets. It was evident that the bombing was counterproductive. The more bombs, the more the British resolve to fight back. I wondered why the German people let their Nazi leaders use such dumb tactics. Now I know! Our leaders are using the same Nazi tactics against Afghanistan.

British reporter Jason Burke, writing to the Guardian Unlimited from Peshawar, Pakistan, has a sensible proposal: “The instinctively moderate, flexible nature of the vast majority of Afghans can be used to our advantage if we stop forcing them to take sides. We should tell the Taliban that the bombing will stop for a set period so that a conference, that will include them, can meet to discuss the future of the country and of bin Laden. If they do not agree, the attacks can start again, preferably after Ramadan. In the meantime, flood the country with aid and talk about addressing the real causes of terrorism and Islamic extremism: poverty, repression and skewed policies in the Middle East.”

We followed the French into Vietnam. Are we going to follow the Russians into Afghanistan, or is this generation of Americans smarter than the last?

Edward C. Perry II

Palm Springs

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Re “U.S. Plans No Letup in Its Afghan Air Assault,” Oct. 23: Senior U.S. officials acknowledged that they would prefer not to offend “Islamic sensibilities” by continuing operations during the Muslim holiday of Ramadan. Pakistan’s president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, was quoted: “One would hope and wish that this campaign comes to an end before the month of Ramadan,” and that “one would hope for restraint during the month of Ramadan, because this would certainly have some negative effects in the Muslim world.”

I have some questions. Would there be a negative effect in the Muslim world if the murders of innocent Americans from biological warfare continue during the month of Ramadan? What do U.S. senior officials think about American sensibilities?

Mike Morgan

Tujunga

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I read in the paper where there are millions of hungry and starving people in Afghanistan. Maybe they wouldn’t be so hungry if the Afghan farmers planted and grew food instead of poppies to make heroin. Our policy should state: No food until you plow under all your poppy fields and turn over to us for destruction your mass stockpiles of heroin. We are fighting a war on drugs, aren’t we?

Robert Higgins

Simi Valley