Napoleon had once said: "Take time to deliberate but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and just go in". Our country is today facing a number of challenges - external and internal. Our internal problems have made us vulnerable to the external challenges because only an internally stable country can cope with the external threats. We have a water crisis, flour crisis, electricity crisis, and most of all, the safety and security crisis. The public needs action on security. The time of making mere promises is gone. It's time to fulfill promises. If no action is taken now, it would lead to disastrous situation. The fighting in NWFP can extend to other provinces as well. In fact, it is already spreading gradually. The delay in action is not only creating resentment against the government but it is also a cause of disaffection among the provinces, the smaller ones among them struggling for rights of more autonomy. Please do not disappoint the people. Remember if the public is not secure, the government cannot remain secure. -AASMA BASHIR, Rawalpindi, via e-mail, January 15.