A general under attack

Re “Stuck in the mud,” editorial, Oct. 1

The current static situation in Washington reveals that today’s politicians are hesitant to take any risk that might jeopardize their careers. In lieu of serious legislation, nonsense is being pondered. The Democrats in Congress, who were elected to change the failed policies of the Bush administration, seem so horrified by any criticism that they have sprung into inaction.

How much longer is it going to take both parties to realize that the country is looking for elected representatives to show leadership and actually take the initiative on policy? I fear that because of this stagnation, the United States is descending deeper into a dark future.

Adam Hyams

Jericho, N.Y.

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The worst thing about the MoveOn.org ad attacking Army Gen. David H. Petraeus is that it appears to have inspired a worldwide perception that it is acceptable to question the credibility of uniformed leaders -- for example, the uprisings in Myanmar against the ruling junta and in Pakistan against Gen. Pervez Musharraf.

Craig P. Bronstein

La Mirada

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Without condoning the “Swift boat” incident, there is a difference between that and MoveOn’s trashing of Petraeus. Sen. John Kerry was a politician running for office. Petraeus was responding to a congressional order to report the status of a military operation for which he was responsible. Last I heard, he wasn’t running for office.

Richard Morse

Redondo Beach

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The Times uses a favored media tactic of “false equivalency” to cloud the issues of the day by castigating Sen. Hillary Clinton for her condemnation of the Swift boat liars before voting against a renunciation of MoveOn. These matters are hardly the same. The Swift boat allegations were lies, the campaign lasted months and cost millions, and the purveyors of slime were GOP-selected smear artists. The MoveOn ad, a one-time event, is not demonstrably false and represents a genuine grass-roots effort by ordinary citizens.

Michael K. Finnigan

Encino