Our Aug. 4 cover story brought out ire and cheers. Some readers fretted over the morals of a “compassionate nation” killing Uday and Qusay Hussein. Others thought that “nobody should shed a tear.”
SHOWDOWN IN MOSUL
The totally over-the-top, gung-ho method of killing Uday and Qusay Hussein is a case in point of how the moral standards of the United States have deteriorated since the Nuremberg trials, where far worse criminals against humanity were given a fair trial (“See How They Ran,” Aug. 4). Would it not have been a much more respectable sight to have the brothers walk out with handcuffs after a successful siege and later placed on trial by the Iraqis themselves? And I wonder if the important issue of weapons of mass destruction was completely forgotten. These two would have been rather important sources of information. If the United States wants to lead, then it should lead by example. The current methods tell the world that the country, once a beacon of free society and democracy, has lost the plot, blinded by a debased desire to build a Pax Americana.
Dirk Simonsz
Malaga, Spain
The Bush administration finally found weapons of mass destruction: Uday and Qusay Hussein.
Joyce Marleau
Seattle, Washington
The Hussein brothers might have been evil, but to splash their bodies in NEWSWEEK’s pages is deplorable. When Al-Jazeera televised dead American soldiers, the backlash followed it all the way to Wall Street. And Americans were appalled when a dead Marine was paraded in the streets of Mogadishu. Yet, when Uday and Qusay are killed, they are dead and mangled victims of the mighty American military.
Nelson Kamau
Nairobi, Kenya
I had to stop reading your article about Uday and Qusay Hussein after reading about how Qusay would feed prisoners headfirst into a wood chipper when he got bored. I’ve long been convinced that the Husseins were bad seeds and the world is undoubtedly a better place without them, but I really didn’t need the details of the horrors they perpetrated to persuade me further. Maybe articles with such graphic descriptions should come with warning labels.
Joyce S. Rubenstein
Houston, Texas
I celebrated the assassinations of Uday and Qusay Hussein. These two hideously sinister guys deserved to be ripped to shreds by high-caliber machine guns and Hellfire missiles, courtesy of the American troops in Iraq. Nobody should shed a tear over the deaths of such despicable human beings.
Brian J. Bancroft
San Clemente, California
In ancient times, the decapitated and bloody heads of the enemy were posted at the city gates for all to see. This was considered barbaric then. Today, the bloated and decomposing heads of the enemy are shown around the world by the media. Since American officials were “deeply gratified to have bagged Saddam’s two sons,” I guess this is not considered barbaric anymore.
Ximena Tagle
Oceano, California
I read with great interest your article “See How They Ran,” describing the lives and deaths of Uday and Qusay Hussein. But once I finished, I could not help concluding that if three men and a boy could hold off 200 elite U.S. troops, grenades and numerous helicopter missiles for four hours, with a briefcase contain-ing Viagra and a single condom, then American forces in Iraq are undoubtedly in for a long ride.
Steve Bent
Beirut, Lebanon
CROSSING BORDERS IN THE EU
The headline “Chicken Little Europe” is a good definition of the state of the European Union (Aug. 4). Europe may have a common currency, but it’s decades, if not centuries, away from a common work force. Most of its member countries show no real intention to harmonize labor laws, social security or health care. On the contrary, they protect their national incompetencies with suffocating bureaucracy instead of boosting their best practices. No wonder in the EU unemployment is high and the economy is in recession. The European Union starts to resemble the Soviet Union.
Torsti Holvikivi
Cascais, Portugal
As one of the very few EU citizens who, according to your report, is living outside his country of birth, I am surprised by the tone of your headline and the sentence “Don’t look for the stereotypical eagerness of the U.S. worker to crisscross the country for jobs.” As you point out, intra-EU migration is hindered by linguistic and bureaucratic issues. It is, however, wholly unrealistic to expect the same level of mobility between a union of 15 (semi) sovereign states with 11 languages and a centuries-old federation with a common language and recent history. Comparison with the greater ambition of the average U.S. worker is futile, as the situations are not analogous. If the aim is to show that a truly flexible EU work force is a long way off, most of us Europeans knew that already.
Neil Smith
Copenhagen, Denmark
HOPING FOR HUMANITY
Despite the continuous spilling of blood, so far no country is willing to intervene and save the situation in Liberia, where innocent people are killed mercilessly (“Crying Out for America,” Aug. 4). Even with former Liberian president Charles Taylor stepping down, there is no guarantee that peace will prevail. The troops he leaves behind will not be able to maintain peace, as they must fight for their own survival. Where is the heroism of compassion from the rest of Africa, the G8 or any superpower? Why is it taking so long for someone to extend a gesture of humanity to save Liberians from genocide?
Kokil K. Shah
Mombasa, Kenya
HARRY POTTER’S WIZARDING WARES
Thank you for your Aug. 4 story “Caution: Wizard at Work.” Those who enjoyed Alfonso Cuaron’s refreshingly raw study of adolescence in “Y Tu Mama Tambien” should agree that Warner Brothers was spot on in choosing him to direct the next Harry Potter film, whose young cast is now full of budding teenagers. If we are lucky this talented director will also enrich the film with nuances of our culture’s overflowing esoteric awareness, making J. K. Rowling’s magical world that much more palpable. His decision to use a display of Mexican skulls at the Hogsmeade tuck shop is one example and will delight red-blooded Mexicans who see the film. I can’t wait until next June.
Jerome Lacor
Valle de Bravo, Mexico
You write that actor Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) will “be riding the Nimbus 2000 in the fourth movie.” Actually, Harry’s Nimbus 2000 was destroyed during a Quidditch match in book three. The broomstick he uses is a Firebolt.
Jennifer Peterson (11 years old)
North Andover, Massachusetts
ABBAS AND THE FUTURE OF ISRAEL
In the interview with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas (” ‘We Want Our Own State’,” Aug. 4), Lally Weymouth’s first question gave the Palestinian leader a wonderful opportunity to advance toward peace. The query whether “Israel [would] retain its Jewish character” under Abbas’s peace plan demands a one-word answer: yes or no. By retreating to double-speak, Abbas continues the sad history of his predecessors by failing to reply with a straightforward, unambiguous answer. Unless, and until, Arab leaders and citizens can reconcile themselves to accepting Israel as a Jewish state, there obviously cannot be true peace. As Weymouth points out in her last question, “the Palestinians never miss an opportunity to ‘miss an oppor-tunity’.” Unfortunately, Abbas proved her right again.
Bernard White
Dallas, Texas
A SURGE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
The Aug. 4 article “9/11’s hidden Toll” shed light on the ever-present problem of spousal abuse. However, this article’s underlying pretext of blaming 9/11 does a disservice to Muslim-American families who have long been silent victims of domestic violence, and to the vast majority of Muslim men who would never harm their spouses. Studies show that all abusers make excuses for their actions, be they alcohol, employment troubles or even the trials of a post-9/11 society. I doubt anyone would sympathize with or write an article about a wife-beating, chauvinistic, white male who blames his actions on the government but still claims he’s a Christian. These justifications should not be accepted. It is clear that these men would still beat their wives no matter which faith they claim to believe in.
Marc Andrew
Phoenix, Arizona
In NEWSWEEK’s story, you noted the scarcity of resources to support victims of domestic violence in Muslim-American communities. Linda Osmund-son, executive director of Community Action Stops Abuses, states that religious leaders have been trying to combat the problem, “but the shelters are still full.” Tragically, shelters for battered women across the United States are forced to turn away families because they are consistently full and lack funding to expand services. Due to state budget crises, cuts in federal programs and a sharp increase in victim-compensation claims after 9/11, domestic-violence programs have faced massive budget cuts. Some have had to close their doors completely. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the Victims of Crime Act Fund (VOCA) provide federal funding for shelters, crisis centers and other desperately needed services. To end domestic violence, Con-gress must fully fund VAWA and raise the VOCA cap to $675 million.
Juley Fulcher, Public Policy Director
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Washington, D.C.
CORRECTION
In our Aug. 4 article “back to basics,” we incorrectly stated that Mickey Drexler founded the Gap clothing store. In fact, Donald and Doris Fisher started the company in 1969. Drexler became CEO in 1983. NEWSWEEK regrets the error.
© 2003 Newsweek, Inc.