America146;s burden

J.N. Dixit has presented a factual analysis of the UN crisis 8216;The UN undone8217;, IE, September 15. Since the collapse...

J.N. Dixit has presented a factual analysis of the UN crisis 8216;The UN undone8217;, IE, September 15. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the role of the UN has been consistently undermined by the US.

In any case, the UN has remained a tool for vested western interests since its inception. Asia, Africa and South America are powerless in the current set-up. Although India has excellent credentials to become a permanent member of the Security Council, one cannot help but be skeptical about its induction. The US appears to have no interest in expanding the Council.
8212; Kirit Desai, On e-mail

The writer has said it all. It may be too much to expect, but shouldn8217;t the US and Britain owe an apology to the UN in the interests of civilised behaviour among nations?
8212; K.S.C. Nair, On e-mail

Teller8217;s two hats

I think Mini Kapoor is right in her assessment of the moral quandaries of the scientists at the Manhattan Project 8216;Last act at Los Alamos8217;, IE, September 13. But I think she is being too charitable towards Edward Teller.

Anyone who has heard him, as I had many years ago, could feel that this man was a maniac, and a pretty smart one at that. He was one of the brightest not original though scientists at Los Alamos, but he was also almost pathologically antipathetic towards anything to do with the Soviets. His support for SDI, when it was clear that the technology at that time would make it an ineffective defence, was something which indicated that he was not above taking off his scientist hat and putting his Strangelovian one when it suited him.
8212; Shobhit Mahajan, On e-mail

Ayodhya heritage

The protagonists of the Ram temple cause are missing out an important fact of history, if it turns out to be true 8216;RSS fans VHP8217;s Ayodhya flames8217;, IE, September 14.

If the excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India indicate the existence of a massive structure underneath the site, it should be declared a historical site and further excavation done. The final structure, whatever it is, should be made a national monument and preserved. If this is done, surely no party would like to build a structure over it, be it a temple or a mosque. This may bring some unknown historical facts to light.
8212; S.K. Mehta, On e-mail

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In four acts

This refers to your editorial 8216;Philhaal politics8217; September 15. Politics, more so in Uttar Pradesh, has had four well defined phases 8212; revival, survival, reversal and refusal. Mulayam Singh Yadav has diligently passed through the first two. 8216;8216;Philhaal8217;8217; for the moment will pass into 8216;8216;beharhaal8217;8217; ifs and buts, and 8216;8216;badhaal8217;8217; miserable would follow.

Ultimately the citizen would continue to wait for the 8216;8216;khushhaal8217;8217; happy and prosperous phase. Thus, grin and bear it.
8212; F.S.K. Barar, On e-mail

Learning curve

It is high time that India learnt many important lessons from Israel 8216;Farming a friendship8217;, IE, September 12. Israel can offer us expertise in areas ranging from agriculture to counter-terrorism. Indian scientists must increase
collaborative efforts with their Israeli counterparts, especially in areas like biotechnology.
8212; D. Sangani, On e-mail