So many retired generals are suddenly becoming pious and patriotic democrats. I feel tempted to quote a Persian couplet: Dar jawani tauba kardan shewa-e-paighambri / Waqt-e-peeri gurg-e-zalim mee shawad parhaizgaar. Simply translated, it means: To be pious in one's youth is the style of prophets. In the old age, even a cruel wolf gives up his cruelty. -KHALID A., London, UK, via e-mail, June 4.