Brownstein Examines Presidents’ Strengths

Re “Clinton’s Got Right Stuff, but at Wrong Time,” Jan. 28: After reading Ronald Brownstein’s piece comparing Presidents Clinton and Bush in regard to the response needed after Sept. 11, I am urged by the underlying jingoism and nearsightedness of this column to respond. Brownstein doesn’t seem to understand that the desperate need for justice will drive people to sacrifice their lives regardless of the fear factor.

Brownstein is himself espousing obsolete ideologies “at the wrong time” when he suggests that what we need is “to reestablish a healthy fear of the United States.” To believe, in the present context, Machiavelli’s 500-year-old advice in “The Prince” (that it is better to be feared than to be loved) is to be out of touch with the present. Because we are no longer talking about principalities, kingdoms or nation states. Aren’t we talking about a global uprising, of which Islamist extremism is only one facet? Take a look at Argentina, for instance, Chiapas or Colombia.

Does Brownstein suppose that by pepper-spraying (a cruel and unusual punishment) nonviolent demonstrators in Seattle their convictions will be quelled? Once you get people upset, will you get any respect (and cooperation) from them by a little skull-cracking? Does Brownstein endorse state terrorism? Perhaps I am just a dreamer (and a pessimistic one at that), but my instincts tell me that this is not going to bear the fruits we are hoping for.

Marc Elliott

San Pedro

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Did President Clinton’s “analytical brilliance” fail to recognize that the United States was under repeated acts of terrorism during his tenure, starting with the first attack against the World Trade Center in 1993 and ending with the bombing of the Cole in 2000?

Perhaps if Clinton had responded to these acts of terrorism the way that President Bush has, the destruction of the World Trade Center would never have taken place.

Virginia Inman

Los Angeles

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A God-given intelligence, a gifted assimilation of facts and an amazing ability to mesmerize the populace do not constitute brilliant leadership. The world has many of these pretenders in elevated positions who are regrettably and sadly lacking. Bear witness to the results of eight years in the White House.

Donald A. Sellek

Manhattan Beach