Letters to the Editor
ttilley
Published Letters: 10 Editor's Choice: 1
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Karpinski and Abu Ghraib
[Read the article: Rummy's scapegoat]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"But when I go out and I talk to soldiers and
I talk to prisoners, I have to trust what
they're saying to me is the truth."
To me, this is the core of the difficulty I've had
with Gen. Karpinski's discussions of her role at Abu
Gharib.
I'm convinced that the problems extend much higher up
than her position - in fact I think they extend higher
than Rummy. But this...credulity, is so maddening. If
she's simply going to believe whatever she hears from
those under her, without serious question, then there
was no reason for her to even be there - just let
Lynndie England run everything. Karpinski's job
included asking appropriate questions of those who
reported to her, and not stopping until she got
sensible answers that agreed with actual evidence.
The argument that a General was captive to Corporal
Graner, and that this General willingly remained in
such a position, is infuriating. The infuriation is
not abated by my belief that the blame likely
extends to the office of the Regent, I mean, Vice
President.
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Stopping Paris
[Read the article: So long, Paris]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Seriously...if you wanted to Stop Her you wouldn't Write About Her. How else would one stop a Blatant Attention Hound with no other Apparent Qualities? In fact, I believe there was a Simpson's episode on this topic (where advertising caricatures took the place of the Paris Self-Caricature).
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Telescoping History
[Read the article: State of indifference]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]In response Bush telescoped the entire
tragic history of the Vietnam War and
Johnson's agonies into slogans, slurring
Johnson's patriotism in order to create
a contrast with his own.
Seems entirely appropriate. The Vietnam tragedy took over 20 years to unfold, from Eisenhower sending advisors in the wake of France's withdrawal in 1954 to the helicoper rescue from the roof of the US Embassy in 1975. The Bush Iraqnam farce has gone on for 4 years and we're already well into the Nixonian stages, Henry Kissenger and all.
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Iraq as "Central Front"...
[Read the article: Dick Cheney's "inconvenient truth"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I've never understood this argument that bin Laden made Iraq The Central Front On Terror and, therefore, we have no choice but to Stay In Iraq. It sounds like Cheney is calling himself bin Laden's slave when the US should be making it's own choices of strategy and tactics.
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Cheney-Monster's Enablers
[Read the article: The imperial vice presidency]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Regarding Powell...his fall has been the most perplexing piece of this idiocy, and I was never a Powell-Groupie. But I will always remember having flown to Europe, picking up a International Herald Tribune while changing planes in CDG, reading of Powell's UN speech, and "liar" was the word that instantly came to mind. It's never left. He can wonder all he wants about how Cheney played him for a fool, but that really misses the point. Despite Cheney hiding memos from him, as Secretary of State he had immeasurably better access to information than I did as an ordinary citizen, and yet he spewed such transparent crap. That was a choice, not an obligation.
Regarding Cheney and Bush...I agree with the writer who described Cheney as evil, but I don't share his sympathy for Bush. Bush allowed, and continues to allow, the Cheney-Monster to do his thing. Bush is the President...he could end it today if he chose. After 6.5 years it should be very clear what his choice has been.
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Getting Carried Away
[Read the article: Cindy Sheehan's wrong turn]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I agree with the overall sentiment of the article...Cindy Sheehan lost more than I hope most of us know to the Iraq war, her "Camp Casey" opposition did much to fortify Democratic Spines at a very important time, but Chavez, et. al....
On the specific matter of her threatened run against Pelosi, however, I think Pelosi's "day late" "response" was right. "Certain segments of the left" in San Francisco have railed against "The Pelosi Machine" for a long time now; the fact that they've plainly talked with Sheehan is unsurprising. There's little reason to believe this "impeach Bush in two weeks or else" thing constitutes a serious threat to Pelosi. Her bigger problem is the same as ours: This Moronic War Must End, and the May vote to fund a "surge" through September neither ended it nor made it's end any more likely. *That*'s why Congress' popularity is as low as it is, not impeachment, we know it, she knows it, Reid knows it.
Pelosi *should* feel heat. Sheehan has done much that we should respect. Sheehan has a right to challenge Pelosi if she so chooses (though it'd help if she currently lived in Pelosi's district...I'm guessing The City now has enough problems with alleged carpetbagging). That doesn't mean Sheehan's threat against Pelosi should be taken seriously.
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The Benefits of Water
[Read the article: A good hard bump]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Regarding: "I once slipped while running on a slippery dock and instead of landing on the edge of the wood slats and breaking my spine and starting a new life as a paraplegic, I landed fully in the water (which covers three-quarters of the world so statistically your chances are good even if they aren't really)..."...
Now aren't you sorry you wrote so disparagingly of Canoe Trips a week ago, comparing them to The Turd Blossom? Surely landing in water is much better than landing in a turd blossom.
Tom.
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Wearing No Clothes
[Read the article: Should Beyoncé bow to Malaysia's dress code?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I'm not a Beyonce Knowles fan, but...Good For Her! Whether it affects the Malaysian government's behavior or not...well, that government does like to project an image of modernity. It can behave in accordance with that preferred image, or not, as it's voters wish. Others should feel free to point out when the Malaysian Emperor is wearing no clothes. The Malaysian government can address that feedback as it wishes. While wearing no clothes, of course.