Sir, - I found Vincent Browne's column of September 26th tempered and thoughtful, even though I do not entirely agree with him.
I view "smart weapons" as both a good and bad development in warfare: good because they seek to eliminate or greatly decrease unnecessary destruction and the loss of innocent life; bad because their use glosses over the horror of war and leads to the notion that a "clean" war is possible. Clearly it is not.
I agree that the United States' reputation in international affairs is not above reproach. However, I do believe we try, more than any other country, to find ways to settle differences peaceably and avoid unnecessary destruction and loss of life. Yes thousands died in Iraq and Kosovo, but how many others were saved? Contrast that with the numbers lost due to the actions of those countries' leaders.
I confess that vengeance is on the minds of many people here in the US, myself included. However, many of the innocents to whom Mr Browne refers are dancing in the streets, chanting "death to the US" and calling for a holy war. They may not pick up a gun, but they instill hate and praise those openly committed to the death and destruction of others without making a distinction between innocents and combatants. All the while, their governments brutally crush any opposition and steal their nations' wealth.
So, I'm no longer too concerned about the potential loss of life. The terrorist regimes have made it known how cheaply life is valued. If they wish to avoid the loss of innocent lives, they can turn over the terrorists and work with us to dismantle their networks. As our president said, you are either for us or for the terrorists. The time has come to choose. - Yours, etc.,
Scot A. Reynolds, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.