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The Bush Doctrine is met with doubt

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Re “The Bush Doctrine, unpacked,” Opinion, Sept. 16

According to David Gelernter, the end of the Cold War freed us from the need to prop up U.S.-friendly tyrants and presented a perfect opportunity to topple (selected) others opposed to free markets and democracy. I suggest the end of the Cold War dried up our market for military machinery and threatened to put us out of the “lord and protector” business. In one way or another, we had to redivide the world so there would always be conflict and need. With no 800-pound gorilla on the horizon, we settled for a 40-pound chimp. It seems to be working.

JON K. WILLIAMS

Santa Barbara

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Gelernter laments the fact that the so-called Bush Doctrine needs to be explained to Americans. Perhaps the problem is that such a doctrine is at best nonexistent. Adding yet another theory that links Bush’s actions to the end of the Cold War is a pathetic attempt to dress up a series of poorly thought-out and executed policies based on a personal philosophy that could be summed up in one phrase: “Shoot, ready ... aim!”

NELSON URDANETA

Costa Mesa

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Let’s see if I understand Gelernter properly: Since no one can stop the U.S., we have the right to invade sovereign nations and overthrow their governments. And this can be done without any moral considerations by invoking national security. Is this what our country has sunk to: a transparent Napoleonic justification for world domination?

WALTER COMINS-RICHMOND

La Crescenta

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