THE letter arrived without an envelope. It was handwritten and has the letterhead of the International Committee of the Red Cross, bearing a red stamp on the upper left-hand corner.

The recipient of the letter, Mira Agustina, 27, was confused. Unlike previous letters, this one, sent by Omar al-Faruq, 36, her husband, through the International Red Cross, was very brief. I am fine. Take care of the kids. Pray they will always be healthy and study w