The American Spectator

Reader Mail

(Page 3 of 4)

And, you know what...conservatives, like me, WILL. That's because we truly love our country and respect the office. I also think it's ludicrous that kids are wearing Obama shirts like he is a Hollywood star or something. Let's all get with the program. We are experiencing scary times. This isn't a rock concert!
-- Myrna Haskell
Salt Point, New York

DISEASE CAN ALSO KILL YOU
Re: David Catron's Obamacare Could Kill You:

Perhaps the author could explain how needed medical care that is too expensive for those unable to afford insurance can be obtained?
-- Steve Schaper

REFUTED HYPOTHETICALS
Re: James F. Stoner's letter (under "But That's Not Saying Much") in Reader Mail's Let the Spree Begin!

Basically, Mr. Stoner's letter represents the point of view of the Left: President George W. Bush deserves no credit for what he did.

On Mr. Stoner's specific points:

(1) It is impossible to prove a negative. One cannot say George W. Bush prevented the attacks-that-didn't-happen anymore than one can support Mr. Stoner's thesis and say he increased the likelihood of more attacks happening in the future. This is merely an attempt to pin responsibility on a president who is about to leave office for events in the future.

(2) One can compare "the role George W. Bush played" with the way his predecessor, Bill Clinton, conducted himself in office in relation to terror incidents.

(3) I cannot say what Mr. Stoner means by "insufficient troops." With the numbers actually used, the government of Saddam Hussein was driven from power in short order; wrapping up the guerilla war that followed took longer but has been completed now.

(4) If George W. Bush's actions increased the likelihood of future terror incidents -- what prompted the terrorists to attack the United States before?

One can see this in three stages: (1) Terrorists will always find an excuse to attack, (2) someone will always find a way to fault the manner in which any response is conducted, and (3) Success cannot be assessed, but failure is immediately recognizable.

In a few hours as I write this, the responsibility will be on the shoulders of someone other than George W. Bush. One would hope the new president would take success or failure graciously, and not get caught in an attempt to assign blame to a previous administration.
-- Robert Nowall
Cape Coral, Florida

James A.F. Stoner owns up to red-faced mortification when Philip Klein gives President Bush “plus” marks by stating: “[He] prevented another terrorist attack on American soil.” Throwing a wet blanket over Mr. Klein’s reckless statement, Stoner insists on steadfast agnosticism with his own carefully crafted avowal: “The statement is simply impossible to prove.” No brownie points for the departing Commander-in-Chief.

But suddenly, we burst forth from looking through the glass darkly into the brilliant sunshine of a fresh spring day. To the point: “there is good reason to suspect many of his actions...actually increased the likelihood of future attacks on American soil.”

Not that “Death to America” was a newly minted Mideast playground rhyme after President Clinton sent a few choice cruise missiles into Baghdad.