Letters to the Editor
batugeo
Published Letters: 13
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Quagmire...
[Read the article: David Halberstam on today's American press]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I am a fan of David Halberstam, and have read most of his books.
But over the next few days we'll hear a lot of blather about Halberstam and the importance of journalism in ending the war in Vietnam.
But in reality, Halberstam and Sheehan were the glaring exceptions. The press corps of the 60s and 70s, especially in Washington, was just as 'establishment' and non-confrontational as they are now.
A good source is "Once Upon a Distant War: David Halberstam, Neil Sheehan, Peter Arnett--Young War Correspondents and Their Early Vietnam Battles" by William Prochnau.
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more secrets, the rest of the story
[Read the article: Improvement in Iraq: Trust Joe Klein and his secret sources]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The rest of Joe Klein's article is an attack by (unnamed) US intelligence officials on the democratically elected Iraqi government that Bush supports -- in public.
This adds more substance to the rumors that a coup is in the offing to replace Maliki.
Klein's story also contains an incomprehensible sentence, "It's not impossible that the Iraqis will eventually remove the al-Qaeda cancer from the Sunni insurgency—which would put a serious crimp in President George W. Bush's current rationale for the war, that we're there to fight al-Qaeda."
I have no clue what this means.
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Tell-all books of the future
[Read the article: Michael Gordon trains his stenographer weapons on Iran]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]In a few years we'll be reading tell-all books from journalists and disgruntled CIA agents about the scandalous run up to the war with Iran.
Michael Gordon will reprise the role of Judy Miller, with the New York Times as itself.
Meanwhile, the national press will be preparing us for the surge to finally pacify Tehran.
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But seriously....
[Read the article: Joe Klein and Beltway seriousness]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]David Brooks is another pundit who talks to 'serious' people who, suprisingly, always agree with him.
It amazes me how these serious journalists can consistently, constantly perform in-depth analysis, study, 'read all view points' AND provide instant analysis for the Sunday morning shows...and they all end up agreeing with each other.
One of the saddest moments in TV history has to be Howard Zinn passionately arguing for peace on the PBS News Hour the night before the invasion of Iraq while the 'serious' people smirked.
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Blumbing to disaster
[Read the article: The endless, meaningless blather from the Washington establishment]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Reading about the report of General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker it seems that President Bush has bumbled in yet another new strategy for Iraq - occupy Iraq for another 5 to 10 years and hope things turn out.
We’ve turned so many corners in Iraq that we are right back to where we started, in the midst of a chaotic, violent situation with no good options and no clear strategy. And, by the way, we may start a war with Iran.
Poll after poll is clear; the majority of Americans want our participation in this war to end. Citizens have to let your representatives know their opinion. Only we can take action to have our voices heard and bring an end to this madness.
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Easy
[Read the article: Douglas Schoen and Hillary's slimy pollsters]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Glenn asks
"For people who chose for their careers to write about political issues, don't they have any interest at all in covering more substantive matters?"
Its easy. It is easier to read the polls and comment on haircuts than do real work.
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Disconnect
[Read the article: The Susan Estrich Complex]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]There is an interesting contrast in the Glenn Greenwald's two posting on Friday Sept. 28.
It seems that 'our' military and MoveOn.org have the same position - don't attack Iran.
So if we support our military we also support the radical-leftist-nut-blogger agenda?
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Bankrupcy?
[Read the article: Chris Dodd's leadership vs. Clinton and Obama's game playing]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]From yesterday's Herald Tribune:
"AT&T, the biggest U.S. telephone company, on Tuesday reported a 41 percent increase in profit for the third quarter, buoyed by record wireless revenue and savings from $140 billion in acquisitions."
One of the most absurd arguments in the 'amnesty for Telcos' argument is the claim that they could be bankrupt.
AT&T has benefited from years of pro-Telco legislation and non-enforcement of anti-trust laws.
They are doing fine, compliance with the law should not hurt their bottom line at all.
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... not an endorsement of ....
[Read the article: Chris Matthews is right ]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]One thing you can add is the inability of the mainstream press to give air time to more than two candidates.
When I watched both the BBC and NBC nightly news last night (Tues, Jan 8) I was struck by who wasn't mentioned - Mike Huckabee.
Last week's presumptive nominee was nowhere to be seen.
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A little clarity
[Read the article: Let 'em duke it out]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Good job Walter.
Finally a little reality in the endless commentary.
What is wrong with a vigorous campaign? What is wrong with the candidates duking it out in front of real people in Pennsylvania?
Why are we so afraid of democracy and want only bland candidates anointed by the party 'leaders'?
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Secret Presidential Finding on Iraq?
[Read the article: Who needs Dana Perino when you have the NYT's Michael Gordon?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]http://www.counterpunch.org/andrew05022008.html
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The Republican Race?
[Read the article: Networks call Indiana for Clinton]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]And in Indiana 21% of the Republicans voted for "not McCain".
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Who is in charge?
[Read the article: McCain's slow motion riot ]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The thing I found interesting about Kristol's article was the assumption that the 'correct' campaign manager is needed to set the tone, structure, and overall message of the campaign.
Isn't that what the candidate is supposed to do?