Maybe 'One of the world's great roads'

A reader finds overstatement in our high praise of the Jebel Hafeet road. Other letters cover Al Qaeda, Emiratisation, Copenhagen, Greek ingratitude, and fresh lettuce.

AL AIN - OCTOBER 14,2010 - View of the road going to Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain. ( Paulo Vecina/The National )

Drones will not end Al Qaeda's regional influence
In a sub-headline, The National reports that the killing of yet another top leader is a "blow to Al Qaeda" (Al Awlaki killed by US strike in Yemen, October 1)).
Good for the Americans, I guess, but it seems to be that killing these people one by one is like killing individual cancer cells.
Much better to keep working on a cure for the whole disease.
TL Currie, Abu Dhabi
Workers must grow together
Khalid Al Ameri has struck a vibrant chord in the opinion article Emiratisation goals rely on expatriates as part of the solution (September 30). He well defines the role of expatriates in the fulfilment of Emiratisation goals.
Training and development strategies tend to separate Emiratis from expatriates when it comes to equal opportunities in individual professional development plans.
This strategy has failed in the past wherever in the world it was put into practice. One familiar argument is "What if the employee leaves after being trained?"
Emiratisation should look to mixed work cultures. Young Emirati professionals would benefit immensely from observing other work cultures that sustain hard competitive workplaces. These measures, in tandem with equal training and developmental opportunities, will foster the true spirit of team work.
Knowledge then transfers at varying levels of experience.  A knowledge transfer from a healthy feeling of self-worth is the kind that persists in all its benefits.
RKS, Abu Dhabi
See Copenhagen on foot, not bike
As a frequent visitor to Copenhagen, I enjoyed your travel-section story Street Smart (October 1).
However, I find that neither bicycle nor canal boat is the best way to see this compact and charming city. Only walking gives you the true freedom to "follow your nose" into all the lively shops, tempting pastry places, and so on. A bike is fine for getting from A to B, as most commuters do, but for exploring, the oldest means of locomotion is still the best.
Also, your writer did not have space to mention the wonderful Danish cuisine.
Paul Johl, Dubai
Greeks should not complain
I am amazed by the people of Greece (Greeks protest despite bailout, September 30).
They are complaining about their share of the financial rescue of their country, which makes me think they don't realise how bad things would be for Greece if the rest of Europe just let them struggle. (Of course that would be a disaster for the rest of the world as well.)
But the Greek people, who pocketed the riches of the fat years without asking any questions, should not complain now about paying their share of the bill.
Nick Pappas, Dubai
Fear of change leads to death
I refer to Qaddafi loyalists dig in for 'last battle' in Sirte (September 30). It's grisly testimony to the fear of change that these Libyans would give their lives fighting desperately for a leader who treated them like pawns. Good riddance to the cult of personality.
Still, I admit I'll miss the flashy robes.
Richard Fillmore, UK
World has many excellent roads
Your article Jebel Hafeet - the greatest road in the world? (September 30) was something of an overstatement in my opinion.
There are tens of such roads in India, to say nothing of other countries.
Try the road to Sikkim from Darjeeling.
Dr KB Vijayakumar, India
Fire account was well-written
Thank you for the story Hero of the midnight fire (September 19), a first-person account of getting out of a high-rise building when a fire was reported in the late evening.
This was a really beautiful article. I thank the author Hala Khalaf and I thank The National for publishing the account.
Anas Khan , Dubai
What we need is fresh lettuce
I was glad to see the story Ways to make cucumbers keep their cool (October 1).
But cucumbers are not, in my experience, the biggest problem. They come from close by, I believe, and are usually fairly fresh.
But anyone who can figure out a way to offer me truly fresh lettuce for sale would be my hero for life.
Jane Raynor, Dubai