Readers React: The bogus comparison of Obama and Kissinger

To the editor: Niall Ferguson’s comparison of President Obama’s counter-terrorism policies to the actions of former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger is simply nonsense. (“Niall Ferguson: Think Kissinger was the heartless grandmaster of realpolitik? What about Obama?,” Op-Ed, Oct. 16)

Kissinger believed that the application of U.S. force worldwide and the support of proxy force-application regimes advanced American interests. Obama, to the contrary, believes that history has demonstrated that Kissinger’s approach has been counterproductive (see Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan) and that political solutions to political problems serve the U.S. long term.

Regardless of one’s opinion of the validity of either approach, the fact is that they are polar opposites.

Eric Carey, Arlington, Va.

..

To the editor: Comparing the Chilean military coup of 1973 to the Egyptian military seizure of power two years ago, Ferguson asks, “In what way does Gen. Sisi differ from Gen. Pinochet?”

Well, the overthrow of the legally elected, democratic regime in Chile, resulting in torture and thousands of deaths and disappearances, was supported by the Nixon-Kissinger White House. Obama’s responsibility for Sisi seizing power in Egypt is, well, nonexistent.

Case closed.

Dave Bufe, Tujunga

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