Fighting Terror: Finish the Job in Afghanistan

William F. Schulz subscribes to the notion that because some of these countries are poor, throwing more money at the problem will thwart terrorism (“To Curb Terrorism, Send Aid in Abundance,” Commentary, Feb. 4). How does he explain a wealthy country like Saudi Arabia, with 95% of its male citizenry in support of Osama bin Laden? The U.S. attempted to give Somalia humanitarian aid (physically and monetarily). The result was U.S. military personnel murdered and monetary aid divided up and squandered by Somali warlords. Yet we continue to send Somalia money, and the Somalis’ hatred of the U.S. remains.

Developing countries are now witnessing that there is no future in practicing or aiding in terrorism, and appeasing them with cash makes us look like fools.

Greg Belluomini

Hawthorne

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Bruce Ackerman would have us believe we have to accept being attacked and having our allies attacked because that is just the way the world is in the 21st century (“War Is Handy Politics for Bush,” Commentary, Feb. 3). Nonsense.

The members of the Axis started the Second World War because they believed the nations that eventually united to defeat them were too decadent and soft to go on to a true war footing and defeat them. They were wrong then, and those making up the “axis” are wrong now. They can be defeated. Their use of minions to spread their doctrine of evil will stop when the boots are on the ground, just as it is stopping in Afghanistan. These forms of government by terror of both their own people and others will go the way of the Nazis, fascists and militarists of Japan, if we are steadfast in our resolve to stop them.

Gary Hall

San Diego

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Since America’s liberation of Afghanistan, an international peacekeeping force has brought security to the capital, Kabul. However, Afghanistan’s fragile peace will collapse if international peacekeepers do not expand to protect the rest of the country. In the absence of such an impartial authority, even well-meaning warlords cannot demilitarize for fear of being persecuted by gun-toting criminals. America should help expand the international peacekeeping force to the rest of Afghanistan to provide security until a new Afghan army can take over. Otherwise, Afghanistan will slip back into anarchy and once again become a haven for terrorists and heroin dealers.

Aaron Zaheer

Oceanside