Dubai Municipality says it will not tolerate counterfeit items (March 6) expresses a lovely sentiment.
But when the demand for "bargain" versions of luxury goods is so high, it's very difficult to stop everyone who gets tempted to provide a knock-off version.
That's why recurring campaigns against these bogus products have failed so far.
The funny thing is that status-symbol goods such as handbags don't really have any practical utility to match their astronomical price tags. People are just gullible.
Vic Packer, Dubai
Internet can be risky for children
I refer to Plan for internet cafe ban on children (March 5).
The internet is a double-edged sword. If parents don't manage access, children can fall afoul of it.
Few parents are aware of the online danger posed to the impressionable mind of the child. In Europe, many upper-middle-class people allow their children access to internet and TV only at set times, when parents can keep an eye on their children.
Until and unless people become internet-smart and attuned to the implications, open access to the internet can be destructive.
Joe Burns, Abu Dhabi
Why the unequal rape sentences?
On March 4 you had a story about a Pakistani sex offender, Rapist's sentence increased to 15 years.
But on March 6 we learnt a police officer from Oman who raped a Moroccan girl and claimed to have raped four others was sentenced to one year only. (Policeman told woman he raped 'You're my fifth victim').
A rape is a rape. The crime is the same. Why one year for the Omani and 15 for the Pakistani?
Name withheld by request
Putin's policies will be watched
Vladimir Putin's return to the Russian presidency has naturally been in the news (Doubts taint Putin election 'victory',March 6).
He is a person full of surprises.
Some western observers and domestic opponents have criticised his use of power as undemocratic.
But his supporters believe that he is the one to reform an economy dependent on energy exports, and is a guardian of stability.
Mr Putin's speeches and actions on both internal and foreign policy will be followed attentively.
Gaye Caglayan, Dubai
Recent reports make it clear that while Vladimir Putin retains firm control in Russia, he has lost popularity, through his heavy-handed methods. Voter turnout and election results show that, and honest counts would show it more clearly.
Once a KGB man, I think, always a KGB man.
Frank Norris, Abu Dhabi
Time to act against brutality
Watching a brutal regime kill scores of its own people day after day with impunity, just so that it may stay in power longer, makes accomplices of us all. (Selling Syria peace deal a long shot for Annan, March 4).
History will be unkind. US Senator John McCain is right. We have sat out this one for too long.
The time to act is now. And we may already be too late.
George Kafantaris, Abu Dhabi
Restaurant list was mouth-watering
Thank you for The UAE's authentic best (March 6) about good restaurants that are not owned by chains or run by celebrity chefs.
I can vouch that Kulcha King is fantastic. Now I really want to try the Nepalese restaurant mentioned in the story. The blogger who is mentioned in the story, Arva Ahmed, truly is the queen of cheap eats.
Sally Prosser, Dubai
That article about restaurants made my mouth water. But are all the good "mom and pop" eating places in Dubai? There must be more than one in Abu Dhabi.
Bryan Ayonoglicu, Abu Dhabi
All must forswear nuclear first-use
I refer to Obama attacks 'loose talk' of Iran war (March 5).
There is a simple formula: Sanctions, yes; military action, no.
We are already dealing with a moral dilemma where we condemn one nation because it has the technology to make nuclear weapons, while ignoring others who already have made and keep these horrible weapons.
We need a universal policy that is simple - "no first-use" by anyone. Any first-use would be met with immediate and substantial retaliatory consequences.
If no one can use nuclear weapons, then having them becomes far, far less beneficial or desirable.
Peter Wedlund, US
