Morale of Marines in Persian Gulf

Your Sept. 28 editorial advising Marine Corps commandant Gen. Alfred Gray to “stop lecturing the troops” was a silly waste of print, long on logic and short on sense of humor.

You suggest that the general is a fool, that he “believes that the way to solve problems is simply to deny their existence.” After all, didn’t he have the audacity to inform his troops that there will be no morale problems and there also will be no boredom?

That’s what you call military humor. Was it too subtle for your editorial staff? The Marines got it. The general was speaking their language, and they loved it. His presence alone was a morale booster.

My advice to The Times? Enjoy some quiche, take a Jacuzzi and stop lecturing Gen. Gray. He didn’t rise to four star by being a fool.

STEVE FOSTER

Los Angeles