Eradicate Terrorism Wherever It Hides

Henry Kissinger is absolutely right (“Moderation Is No Virtue Against Terrorism,” Commentary, Sept. 14: The U.S. should publish a list of all known terrorist groups with the warning to all governments that any country affording them safe havens will face 1) a complete and strictly enforced economic boycott; 2) denial of U.S. visas to its citizens; and 3) risk of military measures against the terrorist headquarters and supporting facilities. Any nation that does not immediately take identical measures is not against terrorism.

Bill Ross

Santa Ana

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What stunningly brutal irony that a personage such as Kissinger should lecture us thusly in the aftermath of the events of Sept. 11; that “half measures [on the part of the United States] are likely to do more harm than good.” This from a man who committed so many calculated and devastating acts of terrorism around the world in the name of the United States and who, if we are really going to get serious about addressing the causes and culprits of terrorism, ought now to be arrested and put on trial for his many crimes.

J. Marc McGinnes

Santa Barbara

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Kissinger’s analysis suffers from a fatal flaw. He writes that, “All Western democracies have recognized that the assault on America--if unpunished--is a prelude to what can happen even more easily to their own societies.”

On the contrary, precisely because of their rejection of Kissinger-style realpolitik, countries like Sweden and Canada are far safer from terrorism than are we.

Peter Furia

Columbus, Ohio

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Kissinger wrote a wonderful commentary. We need cool heads in the government and not someone yelling for war. First we must seek out and find the whole snake. If we only cut its head off it will grow another. We need a president with patience, strength and guidance--one we can look up to. So far I’m not seeing that.

Ann Johnston

Thousand Oaks