The Hindu : A dangerous doctrine

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 12, 2003

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

A dangerous doctrine

Sir, — The observation in your Editorial "A dangerous doctrine" ( April 7 ) that "pre-emption certainly can have no place in the relations between two nuclearised nations" is unquestionable. But you have referred to the series of cautionary appeals by the U.S. and the U.K. and that of the U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell. What more right do these aggressors have to preach peace to others? You have also stated that such belligerent postures would not be appreciated by the international community. What could the same international community do when the U.S. and the U.K. marginalised the U.N. and continue to do what the world opposes?

The international community could do precious little except organising sloganeering. It is a pity that the U.N. Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, and his ilk do not have the guts to resign in protest against the over-lordism of the hypocritical U.S.

N.R. Satyamurty,
Cuddalore, T.N.

* * *

Sir, — The scenes of jubilation from Baghdad should put a lot of countries at ease with the U.S. decision to wage war in Iraq. The fact is that most countries, including friendly ones, mis-judge the U.S. and fear its military and economic power. The U.S. does not follow old concepts like imperialism or empire. It has no intention of taking over Iraq or pumping oil out of greed. This war will go down in history as a bold effort by the U.S. to rid millions of people of the tyranny of a dictator. It is time countries around the world evaluated the U.S. track record honestly and stopped mis-judging its intentions.

Amit Goyal,
California, U.S.

* * *

Sir, — This is in response to "Posture cannot be policy" by Kuldip Nayar ( April 7 ). He regards the Indian posture of `no talks ' with Pakistan as fruitless. Let me remind him that when the Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee, took the initiative to start a bus service to Lahore, it was Pakistan which planned the Kargil war on his back. Whenever India has tried to bury the hatchet, Pakistan has not missed a chance to play its cunning role. Then how can we even think of resuming the dialogue when it cannot stop cross-border terrorism despite its promises.

Mayur Mayank,
Noida, U.P.

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