Robert McFarlane

Howard Cott’s attack on an honorable soldier like Robert McFarlane (letter, Oct. 21) cannot be allowed to stand without comment. McFarlane acted under direct, or delegated, orders from the commander in chief who, unlike Clinton, was not guilty of perjury, sexual harassment of a federal employee, obstruction of justice and misuse of authority.

Military forces act effectively only because of loyalty and discharge of obligations specified by orders. The alternative would be a debating mob of draft dodgers, malingerers, drug- and alcohol-abusing, self-appointed philosopher/lawyers and assorted social parasites.

ANDREW WORTMAN

Santa Monica