M A I L B A G

US foreign policy swings with time

The election results have given the Bush Administration a second stint in the White House. The Bush Administration, for its policies, has won unparalleled hatred in the minds of Arab, Muslim world and South East Asia.

Bush’s victory tells us that Americans care no more about body bags of their soldiers coming back each day in dozens from Iraq than they care about international issues.

During the attack on Afghanistan, weaponry like Daisy Cutters were used which is capable of making mince meat of everything in an area of one mile and wiping out the entire village. Cluster bombs were also used.

During the 1991 war in Iraq, US used depleted uranium at large. This is the most poisonous weapon known to human kind. It is a radioactive weapon and leaves generations to suffer.

RATIKA MEHROTRA, Advocate, Delhi High Court, Delhi

II

It is good that George Bush has been re-elected as the US President. Our Prime Minister has rightly cautioned him on using terrorism as an instrument of state policy. Already we have suffered a lot because of religious extremism. It is time India and the US joined hands to ensure total elimination of all kinds of extremism. Bush, in his first public address, promised that the US would do everything to continue economic progress.

Prof P.K. GUPTA, Bathinda

The menace of stray dogs Normally if there is a complaint, one is confident that the columns of newspapers would be available for it to be publicly aired and making the authorities take immediate note of it. But what does an average citizen do to complain about the menace of stray dogs when all the leading newspapers in Delhi form a body and issue a statement that those who do not find the company of stray dogs exhilarating are lacking in human sympathy? Notwithstanding all the risky barbs from powerful media, I plead guilty. A casual walk in any residential colony would manifest the constant fear of unintentionally annoying the dogs and getting involved in the dog bite. It is in any case impossible to permit young children from running about in the colonies without dogs running after them. I would have supposed that in preference between dogs and small children, one would expect a preference for the later — but then, possibly, I am too an old-fashioned fossil. The dog lovers seem to give solace by suggesting that after dogs have been immunised though, they may cause serious bodily harm by biting which could lead to permanent damage, but we can feel relieved that we will not die of dog bite — what a colossal relief to the silly victims who do not appreciate the love instinct of dogs. I understand that abroad it is an offence for any dog owner to take out a dog without a leash — I believe we have such a law but is observed in breach — that must mean that there can be no stray dog in the streets. How is it, then, that dog lovers in India wish to avoid their responsibility as in other countries? I cannot understand why dog lovers do not offer to keep the stray dogs and adopt them as their pet dogs, so that responsibility and upkeep of dogs could be placed on more humane peoples. This will also not hurt the sensitivity of stray dogs having to live on charity of outsiders for their daily food. Incidentally, with winter on, how is it that dog lovers have not applied their mind as to who will provide winter clothing to dogs? May I also dare to give a horrible suggestion for which I might be in great danger of being lynched and minimum of being called names — I understand dog meat is a delicacy in Korea (just as chicken in India). I also read sometime back that there was serious shortage of dog meat there. Could we not do a sympathetic and friendly gesture to a friendly country which will also avoid the menace of stray dogs, and also earn us foreign currency? I take it human sympathy should not distinguish between dog and chicken. Incidentally, it is admitted that there were over 250 dogs bite cases and some children even died. I suppose those victims are deserving of a sympathy and possibly a re-look by dog lovers of their exclusive concern with the well being of dogs. I have all praise for instinct of human sympathy of the dog lovers. Could they not extend a little of it to the orphaned street children stranded into the dangerous streets of our cities? Even if some of these street kids could be rehabilitated, society would gain immensely and would owe a debt of permanent gratitude to our kind of dog lovers. RAJINDAR SACHAR, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court, Delhi

Veterinary university

A university is integral to the creation and dissemination of new knowledge, especially when the academic disciplines are diversified. The Punjab Agricultural University, for instance, is a classic example where scientists in the College of Veterinary Science have benefited from collaborations with biochemists in the College of Basic Sciences and Humanities. North American universities with multiplicity of professional and basic programmes excel at fostering inter-disciplinary research and teaching.

In contrast to established academic paradigms, it is amusing that there is a thrust to open a university in Punjab on veterinary medicine. If there are deficiencies in the existing College of Veterinary Science, these can be corrected with funds or restructuring. As an alumnus of the College of Veterinary Science, I sincerely hope that better sense would prevail.

Dr BALJIT SINGH, Professor, Veterinary Anatomy, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon (Canada)