Its Own Master

Letters

"When the world knows that the objectionable scenes involved a body double, why is Manisha Koirala creating a fuss if not to gain publicity?" Indrajit Bose, Cuttack

The US should admit that its hegemony has failed to work ("Clueless Crowd", September 16). Even a year after September 11, it has failed to recognise the reason behind the terror attacks on its soil. Unilateral decisions like attacking Iraq are alienating it further. One cannot preach democracy within nations and ignore all other democracies on international issues and yet expect to be credible as the leader of the global campaign against terrorism.

Sushant Sachdeva, on e-mail

America called its attack on Afghanistan a fight against global terror, never mind that the offensive only succeeded in dislodging the Taliban and not Osama bin Laden. The truth is that the September 11 attacks gave the US a licence and a reason to attack at will in its own interest: Afghanistan, to establish a military base in South Asia, and now Iraq, to gain a monopoly over oil resources. America found terrorism a threat to the world only when it itself suffered. Where is George Bush's sense of justice when it comes to terrorism in Kashmir?

Pavitra Khandelwal, on e-mail

Nothing motivates a man more than religion. The terror attack was carried out in the name of religion but ironically, it was against the precepts of religion. Islam needs to be libe-rated from politics for its teachings to triumph.

Parjan Kumar Jain, Delhi

Let September 11 be a reminder that everything is perishable, including America's supremacy.

Abhishek Verma, Delhi

Vis-a-vis the attack on Laden: a perplexed US is like the daredevil rally driver who manoeuvres along the tracks but gets stuck in a jungle as he does not know how to change the wheel of the car.

Rajneesh Batra, on e-mail

Up Rising

Where are the signs of revival in Afghanistan ("Rebirth Pangs", September 16)? The disgruntled warlords are back wielding the gun; the poppy fields are blooming again; and crime is spreading, making Afghanistan's resurrection look like a mirage. The biggest challenge to the Hamid Karzai Government is to calm down the warlords and bring them under one rule. With the likes of Rashid Dostum, Fayeem Khan and Mujaddadi showing no signs of reconciliation, Afghanistan is once again dangerously poised at crossroads. While we may brush off the Taliban as Islamic zealots, its regime should be remembered for bringing the different warlords under one umbrella and overthrowing the Russian forces from Afghanistan.

Mar Fareed, Hyderabad

Born Leaders?

J. Jayalalithaa has rightly echoed the feelings of millions of patriotic Indians in saying that Sonia Gandhi should not be made prime minister ("Prime Contenders", September 16). Those who disagree with her are the ones yet to recover from the slavish mentality arising out of years of foreign aggression. It is shameful that the Congress, which boasts about freeing India from foreigners, is bent upon handing over the reins of the nation to yet an-other foreigner.

A.K. Sharma, Chandigarh

It is the people of India-and not regional leaders-who will decide whether Sonia can become the prime minister. One may well ask Jayalalithaa how she could become the chief minister of Tamil Nadu when it's Andhra Pradesh that she belongs to?

Suja Nambiar, on e-mail

Is it not ironical that one Gandhi-Mohandas Karamchand-was instrumental in getting rid of the foreign rulers from the country and now a foreigner has taken the Gandhi name and could soon rule the country?

C.P. Rakesh, on e-mail

Jayalalithaa would do well to remember that her mentor, M.G. Ramachandran, was labelled a Malayali by his antagonists as he was born in Sri Lanka and, therefore, not fit to be the chief minister of Tamil Nadu.

S. Balachandran, Mumbai

Catch the Action

The dominant theme in any discourse on Sachin Tendulkar is the mundane statistics ("Beyond All Boundaries", September 16). Why speculate about his exploits and think of the figures he could notch up when he retires? Let us enjoy the mastery and the artistry that he brings to batsmanship. Tendulkar is like a river-colossal and overbearing. Bathe in it, drink its water and go into raptures. What's the point waiting with bated breath for it to drain into the Bay of Bengal?

Vivek Khaitan, on e-mail

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