Inbox

Bearing Witness
“Escape from Syria” finally gives the world a view of what it is like to be a civilian in Syria [March 19]. I hope these perspectives serve as a catalyst for world powers to at last take action and bring an end to these crimes against humanity.
Ali Aasim,
Karachi

Your article aptly describes the heinous carnage and deliberate devastation in Homs, as related to me by my close friend who recently managed to flee and take refuge in Lebanon before going home to Karachi. His shop was bombed, his business shattered. Syria is in chaos, yet the international community remains nonchalant. Can the U.N. stop more innocent Syrians from being massacred?
Rahman Faroud,
Karachi

I would like to commend Vivienne Walt on a job tremendously well done in conveying an incredibly heart-wrenching story. I hope people will start to see journalism as a more respected profession. Journalists are risking — and losing — their lives to fulfill assignments, all in an ultimate attempt to increase global education, awareness and understanding. But it’s time the industry takes a step back and realizes that loss of life is not an acceptable outcome of newsgathering.
Lydia Parafianowicz,
Amsterdam

Cause for Concern
Fareed Zakaria gets it all wrong [“Another War in the Middle East?” March 19]. When one hears day in, day out about Iran’s nuclear ambitions combined with its leaders’ obsessive threats against Israel’s very right to exist (a fact missing from this article), one can’t help but worry. The sheer scope and intensity of Iran’s nuclear ambitions are now acknowledged by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Iran has always been fighting a covert war by proxy against Israel, using its allies Hamas in Gaza and Hizballah in Lebanon, both of which are at Israel’s doorstep. It is naive to think that Iran does not aim to do whatever it takes to achieve its infamous goal of annihilating the “Zionist entity.”
Andy Leitner,
Pardes Hanna, Israel

I agree with Zakaria’s view that Israel must not launch a preventive strike against Iran, but I disagree with his comparison of Iran to Pakistan, India and North Korea. Iran’s leaders state over an over again that their objective is to destroy Israel. Iran also backs organizations based in Lebanon and Gaza that frequently fire missiles at and carry out terrorist attacks in Israel. This is not how Pakistan, India and North Korea treat their rivals.
Ran Reshef,
Tel Aviv

One nuclear missile will suffice to destroy our tiny country. We cannot take a gamble over the existence of nuclear weapons in Iran and its readiness to use them on us.
Yan Sever,
Moran, Israel

Israel’s irresponsible behavior is dangerous for the security of the rest of the world. Israel is extremely superior from a military point of view, thanks to the U.S. But because Israel has never been able to establish true alliances or friendships with its neighbors, it is surrounded by hostile populations. A power whose security is based on military superiority alone can only act militarily. This is the real threat to the world, not the possible nuclear power of Iran.
Claus Frausing,
Copenhagen

Santorum’s Dogma
I read Michael Crowley’s article on Rick Santorum with great interest and dismay, and I hope the American people will never elect him to the White House [“The Crusader,” March 19]. A number of questions linger in my mind: How does Santorum reconcile his convictions about the sanctity of life from the moment of conception while being such a strong supporter of wars in Iraq and Iran? Where in the Bible is it written that a thousand lives lost in a war are less valuable than those in the womb? I can’t think of anything worse than a “crusader” whose life is based on and dominated by religious beliefs (read: suicide bombers).
Enzo Galvano,
East London, South Africa

Fragile Friendship
An alcoholic in denial has two kinds of friends: the one who buys him another drink and the one who tries to wake him up to the reality of his situation [“How Bibi Learned to Trust Barack,” March 19]. Barack Obama tries to sober Israel up, not only in relation to Iran but also to the stuck peace process. To the U.S., if you are friends, don’t blindly support us. We are too politically weak to sober up. And to you, President Obama, Benjamin Netanyahu may curse you all the way to rehab, but don’t give up on us — that is true friendship.
Ron Ziv,
Gesher Haziv, Israel

Innovation over Procrastination
Surely the point of carbon-emission legislation is to encourage companies to seek alternative ways of operating [“Hot Air,” March 19]. Instead of whining, airlines, the fuel industry and engine manufacturers should get on and develop a cleaner fuel and more-efficient engines. Enough of this procrastination; we want action.
James George,
Clareville, Australia