Republican Rhetoric Is an Open Secret

After reading John Balzar’s Nov. 16 commentary, “The United States of Concealment,” I had to chuckle a bit when I finished the last paragraph, where he quotes the resident of the White House, saying, in part, “We will not allow this enemy to win the war by changing our way of life” and that we remain focused “on our principles.” I find it funny that so many people--Balzar now--have yet to understand Republican rhetoric: Whatever they say, they mean pretty much the exact opposite.

A. Lee Bower

Redmond, Wash.

*

Balzar’s approach to the conflict against terrorism lacks any respect for the type of war and enemy we are facing. An open approach to such an obscure foe in lands so foreign to our military experience must be covert. Preservation of our liberty and way of life depends upon modification of our usual openness. This includes muffling the media and their gleeful approach to the war and its resultant catastrophes. Balzar might have also quoted Aristotle and his plea for moderation in all things.

Michael H. Sukoff

Tustin