The American Spectator

br> — Jay W. Molyneaux br> Wellington, Florida /p>

I understand Ben Stein’s compassion for the families of military personnel. My father was a British Army Captain during World War II. After enthusiastically enlisting and training at Sandhurst, he participated in campaigns in Italy, Greece, North Africa and the Middle East. I wouldn’t be here today if he hadn’t met my mother in Greece. But military life doesn’t prepare soldiers for civilian life. By age 40 he was an alcoholic, and at age 50 he shot himself in the head. The repercussions of war go far beyond what most people imagine.

p>My quibble with Ben Stein is that he doesn’t use his brain to do the most good. If he is able to approve of Keynsian economics in the New York Times one day, why does he choose to act as an apologist for the Bush administration the next? The fact that Americans are dying in Afghanistan and Iraq is indeed disturbing, and it is appropriate to grieve for the dead, the wounded and their families. But wouldn’t it make more sense for a person with Ben Stein’s influence to discourage our participation in ill-conceived wars? If we hadn’t invaded Iraq, none of those casualties would have occurred, and Saddam Hussein would still be doing his brutal dictator shtick — without any weapons of mass destruction. Ben Stein comes across as an opportunistic journalist and a servant to those in power. br> — Paul Dorell br> Highland Park, Illinois /p> p> Thanks Ben Stein for your insightful article. I am a veteran and you hit the nail squarely on the head. Good to see that there are a few in Hollywood who understand the sacrifices our service members and their families make to preserve our way of life. br> — Dusty Woodlee