"The Most Dangerous Man in the World," Saddam Hussein, president of Iraq. I accidentally stumbled upon your June 4, 1990, issue with that headline and that face glaring at us from the cover. You guys are good. You knew how to call it 13 years ago.
MILTON EDWARD NELSON
Park Ridge, Ill.

Your question of whether or not our military can "avoid the mistakes of the 1991 Gulf War" is much too narrow ["Friendly Fire," March 17]. Every war since the beginning of recorded history had similar mistakes. We are only better informed by today's communications. Advanced technology, in all applications, will never eliminate (and probably not even reduce) human error. There will be unintentional killing. We may complain and grieve, but it will happen.
RICHARD N. FINNELL
Gilbert, Ariz.

Michael Barone's ambitious plan for American global intervention runs contrary to what the Founding Fathers had envisioned for America ["The Next Stage of War," March 17]. With this in mind, how does Hezbollah or Syria threaten U.S. interests, and why should we even contemplate attacking them? Apparently the administration's neoconservative wing has hijacked American foreign policy and is pursuing a course that is not in line with our vital interests. The arrogance of our foreign-policy establishment is partly responsible for the current rise of anti-American sentiment around the globe.
NICK GATSOULIS
Astoria, N.Y.

A war with Iraq will at least lead to an agreement between President Bush and Saddam Hussein on one major matter of worldwide interest: the irrelevance of the United Nations.
ARMOND SIMMONS
Pell City, Ala.

John Leo's "Springtime for Saddam" [March 17] decries the fact that the United Nations did nothing when China took over Tibet and Syria took over Lebanon.True, but Leo ignored many other invasions and takeovers. The United States invaded Cambodia, Panama, and other places; Turkey invaded Cyprus;China invaded India; India invaded Pakistan; the old South Africa invaded several neighbors, etc. There is lots of blood and blame to go around. The real answer is to strengthen the U.N. It needs a small, permanent, professional military force to move quickly to intervene in disasters like Rwanda in 1994and not have to pass the hat for nations to offer peacekeeping forces. When the world and its lone superpower become more civilized in a few decades, the U.N. should be greatly strengthened to actually prevent war.
MASON OLCOTT JR.
Pikesville, Md.

Have an opinion about a topic covered by U.S. News? Sound off