A Tragic Failure of Intelligence

I really enjoyed your June 10 cover story, “The 9/11 Terrorists the CIA Should Have Caught.” I hope to see more reporting that forces the CIA, the FBI and particularly the White House to stand up and begin to accept their responsibility for September 11. As a retired 24-year Army veteran with roots in Vietnam, I am wounded to my heart and soul to see the continuing decline of a responsible government. Having been a part of the military establishment for years, I am quite aware of how politics and being in political favor affect both policy and procedure. So many men and women on active duty are trained to provide leaders and top officials with time-pertinent information that allows these officials to make informed decisions that could save lives. Yet they are stifled by regulations geared more to protect political images than to protect the public. “We the people” has great merit and meaning. My hat is off to the reporters who responsibly report what those in power wish to keep secret. Americans have a right to expect accountability and responsible actions from our elected officials. Please continue keeping this nation strong by providing news that forces true accountability. Larry Moses Oliveburg, Pa.

When I was 12 years old, I was punched by the neighborhood bully. I never thought he would pick on me, but in hindsight, I should have seen it coming. Knowing all the signs leading up to the punch, however, would not have stopped me from getting a black eye. Preventing evil is a utopian ideal. Bad people will always find ways to do bad things. While we try to gain better methods of prevention, let us not lose sight of the full retribution due to the September 11 perpetrators. After all, I may have gotten a black eye when I was 12 years old, but you should have seen the other guy. Lynden Wenger Alpharetta, Ga.

Please keep digging. I’m a political conservative and I like our president, but whatever mistakes were made need to see the light of day. Don’t back off, NEWSWEEK. T. L. Seiler Reisterstown, Md.

As someone who worked and played very close to the World Trade Center, I found witnessing September 11 very tough. After reading your magazine weekly for updates, I’m just as puzzled as the rest of the nation in trying to figure out how we could have prevented this tragedy. However, the question that looms largest in my mind is why George W. Bush appears to be getting a free pass on this when previous presidents have faced great consequences for actions that cost our nation far less. Dionne Kendrick New York, N.Y.

Although I understand the news value of reporting on the CIA and FBI and their alleged failures in stopping the September 11 tragedy, I also hope that the American public appreciates the positive steps these courageous agencies take every day to avert tragedies. It is a sad truth that federal law-enforcement and intelligence agencies, including the one I work for, are sometimes restricted by law from exploring investigations deeply; inevitably, some things are not discovered until it is too late. This is the price of freedom: the price we pay to make sure we don’t live in a police state and to ensure that the government doesn’t interfere unreasonably in the lives of citizens they are sworn to protect. Name withheld Denver, Colo.

The Oval office does not come with a crystal ball. Had either President Bush or President Clinton made public every warning received, we all would have questioned its validity. Trying to place the blame on anyone based on politics will only prolong the healing process. We should thoroughly investigate what mistakes were made by the agencies that may have led to September 11 and patch the holes the terrorists slipped through. Furthermore, we should make the FBI, CIA and INS work together, while remembering not to sensationalize this story. Kelley Patterson Ravenna, Mich.

The Bush administration said there was no way to avoid the September 11 hijackings. But just because the terrorists weren’t caught at the border doesn’t mean they couldn’t have been stopped at the airport gate. I have not seen any mention that the FBI or the CIA notified the airlines on Aug. 23, at the time when the CIA alerted government agencies about Khalid Almihdhar and Nawaf Alhazmi. The airlines could have been informed not to let these men board any planes. If this had been the case, perhaps at least one plane could have been saved. Ariane Fleiderman Los Angeles, Calif.

Arrogance, a lack of communication and an unwillingness to accept responsibility all seem to be contributing factors in the CIA’s current breakdown. Such characteristics may have contributed to the success of the September 11 attacks. This is an astonishing and painful consideration, one that some people at the agency will probably have a hard time coming to terms with. Adding insult to injury, the CIA and the FBI (which also made its fair share of mistakes) are now bickering with each other as they point fingers and ignore accountability. These agencies need to put pride and petty differences aside and learn how to work together. After all, their primary mandate is to protect the citizens of the United States. If this means bending a little in favor of the bigger picture, then they must do so. William Nolan East Harwich, Mass.

Young in Heart, Mind and Spirit

I certainly hope that every health-care worker who read Sylvia Simmons’s June 10 My Turn article felt as humbled and touched as I did, on both a personal and professional level, by this inspiring woman’s grit and lust for life (“Hey, Doc, I Still Have a Lot of Living to Do”). As a master’s degree student in social work with several years of geriatric services under my belt, I idealistically strive to understand my patients–especially my older patients. Given the changing health-care industry and the consequent time constraints, staffing shortages and the pressure to generate revenue, health-care providers and social workers work at a fever pitch. We do not get to know our patients the way we would like to; we just get the quick snapshot. In a society that values youth, let’s savor the way Sylvia Simmons continues to live her life. Jodi Kempner Collins Cincinnati, Ohio

Amen to Sylvia Simmons’s June 10 My Turn piece. What some physicians may not realize is that they don’t make little old ladies like they used to. Kate March Beavercreek, Ohio

Hooray, Sylvia Simmons! Your article is on my refrigerator. I never volunteer my age. I hesitate to say “senior citizen” because you can see the person you are addressing give you this patronizing smile and pigeonhole you as “too old.” As for when to define myself as elderly, I, too, “will make the call.” Joyce Turgeon Douglassville, Pa.

No Longer ‘Morbidly Obese’

More than a year ago, I had open gastric-reduction surgery with duodenal switch, which preserves the full length of the stomach (“The Diet of Last Resort,” Health, June 10). I am down to 168 pounds from a weight of 282. There are numerous types of weight-loss surgery for those of us who are morbidly obese. NEWSWEEK and celebrities like Carnie Wilson and Roseanne should communicate to the public that there are many surgery choices for those who choose to take this drastic step toward health. This type of surgery isn’t a panacea, and we must undertake much research and soul-searching before cutting our bodies open. We must understand what we are doing to ourselves in order to lose weight, because it isn’t just about looking good, it’s about our health, well-being and life expectancy. Melanie Mulvaney Rossell San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Investing for the Future

As a certified financial planner working solely with retirees, I was pleased to see a national magazine finally publish the contrarian view of the stock market–that is, that its current condition is not merely a “temporary lull”–which I have been espousing for two years now (“Don’t Wait Up for the Party,” Business, June 10). Allan Sloan is quite succinct in laying out the reasons that the market may continue to slump and that investors had better be prepared for it. In my practice, the largest obstacle to overcome is the recent past. I see too many investors who are paralyzed by dwelling on the past and, based on their recent investment results, end up making poor decisions for the future. What they fail to realize is that only their view of the future should affect any decision they make. Perhaps more articles such as Sloan’s will help investors more closely align their expectations with reality. Jim Todd Greenville, S.C.

OK, Suit Yourself

Your piece on “new economy” suits describes the marketing brilliance of retailers pushing men’s suits only (“An Aggressive New Cut,” Retail, June 10). What about all the working women in law firms, banking, financial services and other traditional professions? Even more helpful would have been tips on how retailers can facilitate sales to busy professional couples raising children, who have no time to shop for “cool” suits. Ann Exline Starr Hockessin, Dela.

Clarification

In our June 10 article on bariatric surgery (“The Diet of Last Resort,” Health), we should have said that Roux-en-Y and the Adjustable Gastric Band are separate and distinct procedures.