The president of America the superpower is helpless in the face of a hand-hurled missile that destroyed his reputation. It was a humiliating slap from the people of the world. Mr. Bush has not reacted very sharply to it, at least not publicly. But he is unlikely to forget this shoe attack as long as he lives. After all, he is also human. He knows very well, though, that he thoroughly deserved that humiliation. I salute the man who, despite of knowing the consequences, has done this. He has truly delivered the slap on behalf of his nation. -ASMA AHSAN, Islamabad, via e-mail, December 19.