Bush’s Speech on U.S. Goals in Middle East

President Bush began his address to Congress well. He invoked the principle that the strong should protect the weak against unwarranted aggression (front page, Sept. 12). He was less inspiring when he said that the U.S. asked its rich allies for additional support on the grounds that they had a mutual interest in protecting the availability of Middle East oil for use by their economies.

He began sounding opportunistic when he started tying the Persian Gulf crisis to the putative lack of incentives to U.S. oil companies for oil exploration. He ultimately descended into shrill harangue when he insisted that American well-being required a decrease in the capital gains tax and increased support of nuclear power.

I am impressed by President Bush’s Jekyll and Hyde ability to transform himself so persuasively from a world statesman to a Republican demagogue before our very eyes. I doubt that his predecessor could have done better.

WILLIAM J. McCARTHY

Malibu