The American Spectator

Reader Mail

Their Claws Are Out

10.10.03 @ 12:01AM

(Page 3 of 3)

TIME OUT
Re: Clifton Briner's letter ("Leading Rushers") in Reader Mail's Blind Loyalties:

First, see the letters about blind loyalty regarding the California recall election. Blind loyalty to Mr. Limbaugh is touching but not always the most effective.

In war, a good general does not order his troops to fix bayonets and a charge against the strongest point in the enemy's line. The Japanese repeatedly used this tactic in WWII. Hint: they lost. Instead one probes, sends out recon, plans and finally assaults the weakest link.

Sometimes one even finds it most effective to mount a guerrilla campaign such as the North Vietnamese did. Hint: They prevailed in the conflict in Nam in the long run.

Sometimes a military man comes along that is quite good at his trade. As a reward, he keeps getting promoted. Eventually he makes flag rank and finally gets his fourth star. By this time, no one has told him anything but "Yes Sir" in quite a long time. He comes to accept that his judgment is almost automatically brilliant and right--always. Finally he does indeed order that infantry charge against the enemy's strongest point.

Also in times of war, it is axiomatic that one should not unduly aggravate the neutrals. FDR went out of his way to observe this rule with the Swiss and Argentines and Spanish and in each case our war efforts benefited greatly in the long run. In Mr. Limbaugh's case politics, the news shows, his radio show, etc. are the front lines. Sports shows are in the neutral area. During the Civil War, at the Battle of Fredericksburg, both sides observed a truce to retrieve their dead and wounded. After the respite they went back to killing each other. Sports shows are, or should be, that respite.

If you wish to see Mr. Limbaugh continually charge against a brick wall without a helmet, so be it. His concussions don't seem to hurt you do they? I prefer to walk a few paces to right or left and open the unlocked door and confront the enemy on his ground, at his weak point.

As you continue to blindly cheer on Mr. Limbaugh, just remember that the cheerleaders are not really in the game, they stand on the sidelines out of harm's way.
-- Ken Shreve
New Hampshire

Letter to the Editor

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