PICTURE SPEAK

""Vote for Security", November 15

"Domestic security so overrode all other aspects for the Americans that they forgave George W. Bush the mess in Iraq."

Navneet Dhavan, on e-mail

Second Coming

With Americans re-electing George W. Bush, a clear message has been sent to the world-anyone messing with their security shall not be spared ("Born-Again Bush", November 15). It is another endorsement of the big stick policy that the US has been following since F.D. Roosevelt's time. The trouble is that there is no alternative power centre to the US.

Smarth Gupta, on e-mail

Bush's war rhetoric could not be matched by John F. Kerry. The Democrat could not convince the American electorate that he would be a better commander-in-chief.

D.B.N. Murthy, on e-mail

Bush assured the Americans that national security was best handled by him. And they glossed over his dismal record in managing the economy. However, there is little for India to cheer about. The Republican Government is not going to tilt the scales in India's favour. Pakistan, its frontline state in the war on terror and its Major Non-nato Ally, will stand to gain.

Nalini Vijayaraghavan, on e-mail

After 9/11 Americans believed that it was their mission to destroy Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. It was in this context that Bush Jr won a second term which eluded his father. Karl Marx once said, "History repeats itself, first as tragedy and then as farce." We saw tragedy in Bush's first term. Now let us wait for the farce.

Diana Sahu, on e-mail

In 2000 Bush became President without winning the popular vote. But that did not stop him from changing the face of the world through his war on terror. Now he has got four more years and one wonders how many countries will be attacked in the name of regime change, war on terrorism and destruction of WMD.

Sameer Hashmi, on e-mail

Bush's combative foreign policy may have had some beneficial spin-offs, but his conservative stance on issues like gay marriage, stem-cell research and the Kyoto Protocol takes the sheen away from his win. Only if the President of the most powerful nation had a liberal standpoint on social and environmental issues.

Vikram Johri, Delhi

Bush's victory confirms the fact that Americans are more concerned about their security than they are about other ills that ail the United States. He has got the endorsement he needed for the war on terror. Now he must move on and focus on world peace through diplomatic relations

K. Chidanand Kumar, on e-mail

It seems Osama bin Laden's last-minute videotape aggravated the fear psychosis of the American who concluded that he was safer in Bush's hands. Bin Laden has got the opponent he wanted.

Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee, on e-mail

Even if Kerry had won, it would not have made a great difference to India. The American foreign policy would have remained the same-India would have figured after Pakistan on the US agenda.

Anusha Singh, on e-mail

Ambush: Part 2

That Bush's attack on Afghanistan and Iraq was necessary to bring sanity and democracy in the world is an old statement ("9/11 to 11/2", November 15). But it was argued so persuasively that I acquitted Bush of the charges of murders most foul.

M.A. Sadanand, on e-mail

Pride and Prejudice

Our idea of nationalism is strange: we burst crackers when Bobby Jindal makes it to the US Congress but burn effigies when a foreign-born leader makes a tilt at the post of Indian prime minister ("The Right Karma", November 15).

Rajneesh Batra, on e-mail

Sting Operation

It is good to see a few wildlife enthusiasts trying to save snakes and their habitat in Mumbai ("On Hiss Service", November 15). An important link in the ecological chain, the snakes are often killed out of ignorance and superstitions.

Brinda Upadhyaya, on e-mail

Great Disservice

It is unfortunate that the prestigious police gallantry medals go to the wrong people ("Courage Under Fire", November 8). These should be given only after screening the officers and verifying the authenticity of their acts of bravery. Or else, it is a crime towards the deserving officers.

Noufal Mohammed Basheer, on e-mail

Half-baked Truth

After the series of U-turns made by Zaheera Sheikh, the Best Bakery case has turned out to be one of the worst in recent times ("Worst Case Scenario", November 8). It is high time the Government passed witness-protection laws.

A. Jacob Sahayam, on e-mail

Witnesses turning hostile have become common, especially if the case involves powerful people. The new twist in the Best Bakery case puts a question mark on the workings of the NGOs.

H.R. Bapu Satyanarayana, on e-mail

FAMILY POLITICS

Usually any talk of dynasty politics centres on the Congress while in reality it is prevalent in most political parties ("Me or the Family", November 15). In the long run it will not be beneficial to the party as it stifles the grassroots worker. It is time the leaders looked beyond family trees. Bal Govind, on e-mail No one wants to lose the privileges and perks that come with power. Little wonder the politicians ensure that these stay in their family. We, the people, and our families will keep on serving them. Soumitra Dey, on e-mail

Red Indians

Why are the Marxists opposed to foreign direct investment in India ("Hammer and Tongs", November 8)? The Chinese economy zoomed ahead after it allowed FDI.

D. Manikyala Rao, Gudivada, Andhra Pradesh

Our comrades must learn a few lessons in glasnost and perestroika from Mikhail Gorbachev, the former president of the USSR. With the Left threatening to withdraw support, the Government will not be able to usher in economic progress through disinvestment and FDI. The Reds' mindset should change. Otherwise they will be left out of the decision-making process.

George Gabriel Olivera, Bangalore

The leftists have been influencing the economic policies of the UPA Government to the detriment of national interests. And that too when they refuse to shoulder the responsibility of governance.

V.V.S. Mani, on e-mail

Fickle Minds

With pubs and discos giving way to lounge bars, it seems the Gen X gets bored too easy and too soon ("No Time to Disco", November 8). Once they get tired of quiet spaces, they will be back on the dancing floors.

Manisha Mishra, on e-mail

Error in Connection

Oops, you did it again, publishing a story that an average Indian middle-class family would not like the children to go through ("Indian porn.com", November 8).

Sonali R., on e-mail

Steel in His Soul

L.N. Mittal's achievement as the world's largest steel maker is a tribute to the grit and gumption of Indian talent ("Steel King", November 1). While Mittal made it big abroad, many industrialists like the Tatas and the Birlas stayed here, worked their way through the protectionist environment in India and drove the nation's growth. Their contributions, therefore, have a different resonance.

Siddhartha Raj Fuha, on e-mail

Index