Your editorial is riddled with errors and misstatements, starting with the absurd allegation that the Bush administration is planning to drive hundreds of species to extinction in foreign countries.

The United States has no power to control how other sovereign nations manage their endangered species. The proposals put forward by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - originally developed by the agency during the Clinton administration - are designed to provide an incentive to foreign countries to develop effective conservation programs for these species. This is done by allowing countries that have effective programs that enhance the survival of endangered species to export to the United States limited numbers of endangered species to raise funds for these programs.

This is not a new idea. The Fish and Wildlife Service has done this with many other species in the past, including giant pandas. The service is seeking to expand the use of these provisions to promote conservation efforts for more species.
DAVID P. SMITH
Washington, D.C.

The writer is deputy assistant secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.

It has been reported that the most popular eatery for our troops in Iraq is the Burger King at the airport in Baghdad. Our nation's finest say that eating a Whopper boosts morale and keeps them going. This is great. According to the report I watched, the food at the Bob Hope Restaurant in the same airport is free, but our fine young men and women prefer Burger King and - get this - have to pay for their Whoppers.

So why can't our government set aside some of the $87 billion proposed Iraq reconstruction money for cheeseburgers? I would rather my tax money went to make the situation a little easier on the troops than to make sure we do something that is politically correct. I do not think this is too much to ask for our brave men and women risking their lives.

Better yet, bring the troops home and let them eat Whoppers at their neighborhood Burger King.
JIM FLYNN
Golden

Humor, even about cancer

Re: "Strip club's sign isn't funny, nor is it responsible," Oct. 20 Open Forum.

This is in response to the indignant letter from Matthew Saks about the Glendale strip- club sign that reads "October is Breast Awareness Month."

I'm a woman and a breast-cancer survivor. I had a mastectomy in 1998. I even wrote a book about it all, called "Why I'm Glad I Had Breast Cancer." Sure, breast cancer is a serious disease and a serious subject. But those who can't find any humor in serious subjects are condemned to a life of gloom. I assume that Saks has never heard any breast-cancer humor, but I can assure him that there's quite a lot of it. Other women have written whole books on the subject. Such humor can really help those who are going through the experience. Hence I find the sign at Shotgun Willie's not offensive, but funny and quite clever.

And to any young woman who is gainfully employed at such a place, I say: Flaunt them while you can, honey! You never know when you might lose them. And if you can keep your sense of humor, you will always be beautiful.
LEONORE H. DVORKIN
Denver

Re: "Harris, Klebold video to be released," Oct. 21 news brief.

Here we go again. It's the all-important public's right to know versus the public's wish to know. Why are they deemed the same thing?

I was shocked at the news that yet another Harris-Klebold video is going to be shown. I will be turning off "Dr. Phil" right at 5 p.m. and will probably read a book. TV news is getting too full of itself. Do they not know when enough is enough? The sheriff's office doesn't do this sort of thing willingly, so who are the people keeping this media sickness going? Isn't it hurtful to the children of Columbine who are aching to put this memory past them? This is just another slash at an almost-closed wound.

You would think by this time they would find something else to focus on - some war, some NBA naughty boy, etc. Columbine is old news. We want to be normal. Our local media and some sick individuals won't let us. No one will be brought back and nothing new is being discovered. It just brings more unhappiness.

It brings the old bad memories out and sells papers to those who still wish to be entertained.
SUE COLE
Littleton

A seminar on sense

Re: "200 march in police protest," Oct. 21 news story.

Thank you for your balanced coverage of the Paul Childs police shooting case. It seems like someone of authority, in this case Mayor John Hickenlooper, should use his clout to intervene in this situation. As your article mentioned, Hickenlooper wants people to know that he's concerned. So here's how he can do it:

All the concerned parties should meet at a neutral point for what could be called the "Common Sense Summit." Preferably, it would be outside of Colorado, so that those in Colorado don't have to hear about it. The meeting can be facilitated by Alvertis Simmons, since he seems to have little else to do with his time.

There can be several seminars for all parties, including:

"When 911 means 911: proper uses of the emergency notification systems";

"Helen Childs speaks candidly about the need for government subsidies for kevlar vests for mentally handicapped teens";

"What to do when a uniformed officer demands that you drop a weapon or stop what you're doing: A pragmatic approach," featuring guest speaker Rodney King;

"Alvertis Simmons' open-mike session on the sweet sound of his own voice";

"John Hickenlooper's 'I feel your pain' breakout session: How to support and not support law enforcement without really doing either - but still go home knowing you did what might or might not have been the right thing"; and

"Officer James Turney unplugged: 'He came at me with a knife."'

Once the groups sit through the workshops together, hopefully they'll come to the conclusion that most people in Denver are trying to live a peaceful, prosperous life and not bother anyone.
STEVEN B. HILL
Denver

Thankless job

My client was a drunk, despondent, mentally ill former Army Ranger, hell-bent on committing suicide. Two responding sheriff's deputies found him sitting in a bathroom, bloody and brandishing a very large hunting knife. They were within 3 or 4 feet when this man started swinging the knife, lunging and yelling, "You're gonna have to kill me!" One deputy distracted him while the other pulled his baton and "convinced" the man to drop the knife. He was arrested, bandaged and jailed.

I met him about a month later. By then, he was fully sober and already on a course of anti-depressants. He was grateful that the deputies spared his life. He insisted that I apologize to and thank the deputies for him, even before the case was resolved.

When I went to thank these brave men for their act of heroism, they told me that they were being ridiculed and shunned by their fellow deputies for not following "procedure" and shooting this man. They were called "soft" and cowards for not pulling the trigger.

They appreciated the thanks. It was the only one they got.

J. BRANDEIS SPERANDEO

Denver