Readers React: The perils of saber-rattling over American ‘honor’

To the editor: Jonah Goldberg really needs to find a new whipping boy. His weekly attempts at demonizing President Obama are becoming repetitive. (“Upholding America’s honor in a dangerous world,” Op-Ed, Sept. 8)

“Swimming with the current” and changing attitudes on foreign policy have everything to do with self-preservation, not national honor. That was true in 1941 (Pearl Harbor) and it’s true today regarding the Middle East mess and the Palestinians as they seek a homeland.

I suspect the emotional rise in patriotism is always most passionate following reports of mass murder and films of beheadings, particularly of Americans, by radical terrorists.

Fortunately, we have a president who is calmly but steadily determining a strategy that must include a heretofore invisible North Atlantic Treaty Organization and United Nations, and a do-nothing House, while at the same time trying to avoid the disastrous mistakes of his predecessor.

Let the man do his work.

Bob Murtha, Santa Maria

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To the editor: Remember Afghanistan? Not “ours,” but “theirs” (the Soviets)? A weak economy and losing wars are recipes for collapse.

Republicans rattle their sabers in the name of U.S. honor and credibility. But if Wall Street has recuperated beautifully, it is not true of the rest of America. Our economy may not be able to withstand more wars.

And what about our already exhausted soldiers? I propose that those who want war be sent to fight it. In these days of technology and contractors, anyone can be drafted. Age and fitness are not as essential as they were.

And it would be fairer: Hawks would have to stop sending other people’s children to be killed.

Marie Matthews, San Pedro

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