The American Spectator

Reader Mail

(Page 6 of 14)

/p> p> Conservative pundits may be receding in their political support of Bush after his recent speech to the nation about Iraq, but listening to the president reminded me more of the speechifying by Catholic bishops in response to the priest molestation scandals than a head of state who knows what he's doing. Like the Catholic bishops, Bush acknowledges, in the passive, that "mistakes were made," rather than specify who made the mistakes or what the mistakes entailed. Like the Catholic bishops, he says he "accepts full responsibility" but fails to define "full responsibility" other than, "Gee I feel bad -- oh, well." Like the Catholic bishops, Bush is quickly losing credibility with former supporters, as the article points out. The Administration's failure to seek input from those most genuinely involved -- the troops and officers not included in the Administration's elite inner circle of advisers -- produced alarming gaps in military understanding. br> -- Caroline Miranda br> North Hollywood, California /p>

I listened to the video of my Senator, Max Baucus, proclaiming the virtues of "cut and running." I'm sure that he's right. He's been a U.S. Senator for 29 years. He must have great knowledge about military affairs, because I don't understand his reasoning. I imagine he remembers Lincoln and Churchill and their sage advice when faced with adversity. Or perhaps he's taking the advice of the great statesman, Henry Kissinger, who negotiated millions of people into death and slavery. I'm not sure. It's too complicated for me. Then again, I had a flash of insight into why our military leaders, Reid and Pelosi, have decided that leaving Iraq is the best approach. It will shortened our supply lines and we won't have to watch the bomb wreckage in Iraq when we can watch the neighborhood Safeway store go up in smoke.

What did you think would happen when the Pentagon and Trade center got bombed? Did you think that we would launch some missiles and that would be the end? Did you think that when we invaded Afghanistan, the enemy would capitulate? It's as if you and your ilk are historically illiterate. I know that the education establishment teaches diversity at the expense of history, but I would have thought that a writer for The American Spectator who proudly titles himself "III" would understand that war isn't something solved in a two-hour movie, or even in a season of "24."

p>It staggers the imagination to imagine what your defeatism would be in 1942, 1863, or 1777. br> -- Jason Stewart /p>

P.S. Our intervention in Iraq has high and low moments. It would be better, if you itemize those things that have gone well and those that haven't. Then compare them to any other war...It might give you some perspective

p> DESIGNER DEFECTS

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