According to a Los Angeles Times column, in May the Bush administration (represented by Secretary of State Colin Powell) delivered $43 million to the Taliban government. It was and is common knowledge that the Taliban are the largest human-rights violators on the planet.

We read with great interest your article on Ballet Quad Cities (See River Cities' Reader, Issue 338, August 29-September 4, 2001). This article along with the June 10, 2001 Quad City Times article on the ballet company has prompted this response in order to clarify some inaccurate historical references.

I want to thank you for shining your brilliant light of reason, integrity, and vision on the issues surrounding real-estate developers serving their own best interests when elected to public office. I refer to your insightful words in the Issue 335 Words from the Editor, "Farewell to Bats": "Either Davenport voters need to stop electing wannabe politicians whose livelihoods depend on real estate altogether, or at least insist that they abstain from voting on economic development that involves their professional peers.

Once again the Mississippi Valley Blues Society is writing to thank this community for its support of the 17th BluesFest. More than 400 volunteers worked during the three-day event on July 6, 7, and 8, and another 55 volunteers worked on 10 committees all year long to bring off this year's festival.