Guard Stint a Sweet Deal for Fortunate Son

Re “White House Counters Attack on Bush’s Military Service,” Feb. 4: As hundreds of members of the National Guard are risking their lives in Iraq, President Bush will still not explain why he apparently was missing from service for an entire year during his own term in the Air National Guard.

Military records pertaining to this year seem to have mysteriously disappeared. Bush campaign chairman Mark Racicot’s official statement, “President Bush served honorably in the National Guard. He was honorably discharged,” certainly doesn’t address it.

Now Bush’s spokesman tells us it’s “shameful” to even bring it up and “sad to see some stoop to this level.” Responses like this from the White House to valid questions are what’s really shameful.

Bonnie Peterson

Tustin

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Racicot calls “despicable” the charges that Bush may have served less than honorably in the National Guard. In truth, it was the rush to war in Iraq by this administration -- whose members largely managed to avoid armed conflict -- that was despicable.

How ironic is it that while less-fortunate sons flew combat missions over Hanoi, our commander in chief was flying over Houston?

Jim Anderson

Sherman Oaks

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Most people don’t realize that a class system exists in this country. Only a privileged few can go AWOL from their National Guard unit in May, wait until September to get permission to do “alternate” service and then fail to show up. When those privileged few feel like showing up a year later, they can do their service as quickly as possible so they can get out in time to attend Harvard Business School.

Such a sweet deal. I wonder if any of the servicemen in Iraq can finish their duty when and where they feel like it?

Suzanne Corwin

Westlake Village

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Deficit Disaster

I agree with Michael Ramirez’s editorial cartoon (Commentary, Feb. 5) proclaiming that this country’s growing deficit is obscene. The organization MoveOn submitted a 30-second commercial to be aired during the Super Bowl that addressed the deficit and its lasting effects on our children, who will ultimately carry the burden of deficit spending.

Ironically, CBS decided not to air this commercial, deeming it was too controversial. Rome is burning, my friends, while we rant and rave about the appearance of a nipple on commercial television.

Joyce E. McCabe

Orange

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A Nuclear-Free Planet

Re “N. Korean Move Spurs Hopes on Nuclear Issue,” Feb. 4: The subhead states that “agreement on talks may indicate a high-level decision to dismantle weapons program.” Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all the nuclear nations could dismantle their (and our) nuclear weapons to keep the planet from being destroyed?

Edith Waterhouse

Pacific Palisades