Even physicians can be sociopaths.

Dr. Jamshid A. Marvasti explains to us why some doctors become suicidal, homicidal killers ("Physicians as Terrorists," Guest Editorial, Sept. 1, 2007, p. 9).

He gives the example of Iraqi doctor Bilal Abdullah who drove an explosive-laden vehicle into the Glasgow airport recently. These physicians are not insane or antisocial, he says, but enraged by the "invasion and occupation of their land, home, or holy place." This behavior is justified by pointing to other bad behavior such as U.S. slavery and the bombing of Japan by the United States.

There was no invasion of Iraq with the loss of 600,000 lives, as Dr. Marvasti claims. Even the wildly leftist anti-American blog Iraqbodycount.org estimates the deaths at 77,000. Why wasn't Dr. Abdullah enraged by the slaughter of one million of his fellow countrymen by Saddam Hussein and by the invasion of Kuwait?

History is replete with invasions and occupations. Dr. Abdullah's colleague in the Glasgow attack was from Bangalore, and no one invaded his country. There is no mention of the violent elements within Islam by Dr. Marvasti. It's as though he is trying to sanitize radical Islam. In fact, Dr. Marvasti himself now lives on occupied land in Connecticut. When was the last time a Mohican or Mohegan native slammed explosives into his front door to protest invasion of their land?

Physicians who slaughter innocents do so because they can be sociopaths just like anyone else. No one knows if their desire to hurt rather than help is more nature or nurture. Instead of sophistry and sloganeering ("terrorism is the war of the poor"), Dr. Marvasti should just recognize that evil people are all the same--they enjoy hurting others. Period. The anti-American innuendo is not necessary.

Calvin S. Ennis, M.D.

Escatawpa, Miss.