Tyranny
From Ms M. Irfan, Sharjah.
Mr. Kuntz ("Truth hurts" Gulf News, November 16) states: "As for America's founding fathers, they never had to convince their young daughters to strap bags of gunpowder around their waists and visit a British candy store after school."

With the children so busy gunning down their classmates, holding a shoot-out at school and avenging their teachers who has got the time to even think of blowing up a candy store in Britain.

After school? The children can't wait; they will blow up the kindergarten instead. But let us be fair. Not all American fathers share Mr. Kuntz's twisted tenets.

So why aren't they stopping their children? The only reason, a father can't help his children because his precious boys just bludgeoned him to death!

That, however, is a possibility only if the children escape the maniac grips of their estranged mother who realises that the children could do with a bath and a funeral. Tyranny breeds tyranny, which is a slight variation of what Mr. Kuntz had written.

Be perceptive
From Mrs. B.J.T., Fort Smith, Arkansas, USA.
Mr. Burnett ("Despicable" Gulf News Online, November 22) states: "Messrs. Kepler and Kuntz and their ilk are the prototypes of the 'ugly American'..."

Seemingly, the murdering bombers from several Arab countries have become the "ugly Arabs" of the 21st century, far out-weighing anything the stereotype fictional "ugly American" character of the 20th century might have imposed on the world.

Messrs. Kepler and Kuntz have said nothing more damaging than many of your readers say repeatedly about Americans, the U.S., Israel, Jews, Britain, Tony Blair, George Bush, Ariel Sharon. It is similar to an exercise in psychotherapy – giving vent to your personal hatreds only receiving no healing benefits.

It is time to put aside deep-seated, personal hatreds and work toward peaceful solutions by facing the reality of the "ugly terrorism" that is gripping our world. Instead of endless carping and blaming, people should do something profound like leaving this world a better place.

They should show their neighbours and the world they really want peace by being peaceful... by roundly denouncing and rooting out homicide bombers, despots, corrupt officials, tyrants and terrorists in their own countries.

Then their derogatory words might carry some weight outside their own little world.
* Full name withheld by request.

Weak-willed
From Mr. C. Kuntz, Dubai.
Mr. Burnett should know that Carter is a weak willed Annapolis graduate too, who along with Clinton, is responsible for today's problems.

Fact: Carter was spineless in the face of Iran during the hostage crisis. He tried a military solution, but four years of his military cutbacks cost "real American" lives. Clinton was spineless as well, bin Laden was offered by the Sudanese, inaction on USS Cole, embassies in Africa, etc.

Does an educated man really have to wonder why weaklings like Mr. Burnett are sceptical about our current American president? For, it was people like Mr. Burnett who voted for Carter and Clinton.

Now, Mr. Burnett has blood on his hands. His attempt to wipe them off on Bush has failed. Mr. Burnett should use his shirt, so he will be constantly reminded "in order to secure peace, you must be prepared for war".

As for Mr. Mandodi's comments ("Inability" Gulf News, November 22), from the well I can see: Taiwan's American military hardware and trade, commerce. China is in the WTO and Communists are stepping down. Because Americans told them to. That $100 billion bought us Pakistan.

Reflect
From Mr. M. Amanatullah, Okhla, New Delhi, India.
We talk of American and Israeli duplicity but forget to look at ourselves. If we, as Muslim nations, do not follow the teachings of Islam and the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) we shall end up blaming everybody except ourselves.

Our understanding of community development, as taught in Islam, is insufficient. We fight among ourselves. Each person thinks they are superior to others. We do not follow the laws of humanity.

Our legal system is ambiguous. We do not believe in collective work. We do not even understand the value of education.

We should understand the reality; value peace and harmony; and inculcate the highest level of education amongst our children; work collectively for the development of community; and understand the importance of economic betterment.

We should move along with the world, not lag behind in any field. To achieve this we should look at our systems and improve upon them. Most importantly, we should review our legal system which is in a mess.

Basic needs
From Mr. E. Eappen, Dubai.
I applaud Bill Gates for his pledge to donate $100 million to combat AIDS in India (Gulf News, November 12). Indian politicians welcomed the move.

So far, medical science has not found any vaccine to combat AIDS and experiments are ongoing in Western countries and in America. I am sure India will be the base for these types of experiments in the future.

Meanwhile, Kerala Industries and IT Minister P.K. Kunjhalikutty's requested Gates to develop Microsoft windows in Malayalam.

Kunjhalikutty thinks all the socio-economic problems will be settled with computer literacy. It is not the solution. Kerala needs more employment, pure drinking water, proper sanitation and other basic necessities.

Right path
From Mr. R. Arora, Dubai.
The news item titled "Retired colonel forms 'suicide squad'" (Gulf News, November 15) shocked me. It is not proper to get the youths be involved in violence. It is not the solution and it will just add fuel to the fire.

The squad has been divided into two parts: the first will fight against corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and criminals; and the other will take on Pakistan. It is strange to know that the whole Pakistan is India's enemy.

Internal criminality, corrupt politics can't be removed by killing the corrupt politicians. They can only be removed when people recognise their voting power. India is a democratic country and we have to elect reliable leaders.

On the squad who will take on Pakistan, I am 100 per cent sure that many Indian and Pakistani youths are interested in making good relations with each other. And it can be made through business, sport and cultural activities.

Violence is not the option; we have to work for a peaceful solution. I am expecting my seniors, with their experiences, to lead us to the right path.

Treatment
From Mrs. A.R. Samuel, Umm Al Quwain.
Everyone is concerned about health. When someone is sick, they go to a doctor for consultation. But recently things have changed, some people think for a while before going to the hospital due to the exorbitant consultation fees being charged.

The article "Where does a patient go for urgent help?" (Gulf News, November 18) was informative. I notice that some doctors prescribed antibiotics which are costly; while others do not prescribe antibiotics unless a patient is in a critical condition.

Some doctors are using an unjustified billing system. Patie