The war against terror appears misdirected

Re “7 British Terror Suspects Also Pakistani Citizens,” Aug. 19

The latest terrorist plan of mass murder was partly conceived in Pakistan, and seven of the suspects in custody have dual citizenship.

In the aftermath of 9/11, we fought against Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, driving Osama bin Laden toward neighboring Pakistan, at which point the Bush administration inexplicably cut and ran, turning its attention elsewhere. All the reasons originally cited to justify the invasion of Iraq -- despotism, weapons of mass destruction, breeding grounds for religious fanaticism and hatred -- exist in Pakistan. Why did the Bush administration cut and run? The apparent contradiction between its words and deeds are a clear manifestation of the twisted logic of cowardice.

CARL C. SLATE

Sherman Oaks