Reader Mail, 9/12

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Re: Reason Express (9/10)

Explaining Ritter

How can anybody take Scott Ritter seriously ?

He contradicts statements that he made before the weapons inspectors were kicked out. He used to be worried about Iraq, now he isn't? So suddenly Hussein has thrown away everything he was working on? This is completely ridiculous, and anybody who demands proof that a maniac like him is working on nuclear weapons is a fool. Why aren't the words of the Iraqi defectors, people who actually worked on these programs and now try to warn us about the dangers, taken more seriously in the press? The press likes to whine about "not having a debate", well here's an idea, do the damn investigation yourself and present FACTS to the people so they are informed! Duh!

He got $400,000 from an Iraq sympathizer to help promote the recent documentary about Iraq. Just a coincidence that he is now against attacking Iraq, I guess.

Weapons inspections are mostly a waste of time, because they keep us under the illusion that we are doing something productive and protective. Do you REALLY think there is no way, especially now that four years have passed, for Hussein to hide what is going on, knowing that money is not an object? Very few people address this question. I suppose if we played it right, we could force his hand on this and start bombing 24 hours after they first refuse an inspection team the required access, and I could be in favor of such an approach, if it wins more approval across the spectrum. But I don't put alot of faith in the weapons inspection process, because of the 4 year interval, and the history of Saddam Hussein.

His position is foolish and naive. So is anybody who takes him seriously without demanding answers to these questions, and without looking just as sincerely at those whose testimony conflicts with his. Why not see what Richard Butler thinks? The Iraqi defectors? What makes Scott Ritter more knowledgeable or more believable than they are?

Jeff Brokaw
Wheaton, IL

Ad hominem

Haven't read you guys in a while. I see you're idiots on Iraq.

Good bye.

Joe Vesey

Praise for Ron Bailey

Have you all gone nuts? It's hardly "Borking" (with apologies to Judge Bork) to castigate Mr. Ritter for current statements, as well as venue, that stand in sharp contrast to what he was saying prior to being "let go" from the weapons inspection team. Could it be sour grapes? Especially in light of his failed attempt to work at the CIA (failed lie detector test).

Is Ron Bailey to be the only intelligent, rational and fact based columnist left @ Reason online?

Good thing his essays are worth the trip.

Mike Daley

Re: Flag Days (9/6)

USA in distress

I appreciate your recent column about flag waving, but I am puzzled by it:

Most people certainly view the American flag as representing primarily love of one's country, but most people also equate their country with the powers of the federal government and the president as their righteous "father." In short, popular political culture believes that the federal government's pervasive involvement in our lives is essential to make "our country" possible, safe, healthy, etc. This is one of the lessons of Robert Higgs's book, CRISIS AND LEVIATHAN.

The reality is that the flag, like all national flags, does not represent one's country or civil society at all, but the U.S. government, plain and simple. It does not "represent liberty, tolerance, and the rule of law" and has not done so ever since the federal government abrogated the Constitution. To believe that somehow the flag represents liberty is to fail to distinguish between government and the people and civil society.

To fly the flag is to fly a symbol of the federal government and all that it does (or even a tiny part of what it does). To compare this to wearing a crucifix is nonsense since a crucifix does not represent any church at all (and certainly no Leviathan state today) but simply the crucifixion of Jesus and Christianity. Especially today when the federal government is trampling on the Bill of Rights, and pursuing pork, corporate welfare, protectionism, and escalating interventionism worldwide, I fail to see how flying the flag represents the ideas and ideals of liberty.

I would instead suggest that if you insist on flying the flag as a symbol that you uphold, you do so showing it upside down, as a symbol of distress, for that indeed is the state of "liberty, tolerance, and the rule of law" in America today.

Best regards,

David J. Theroux
Founder and President
The Independent Institute

When the country was fallin' apart, Betsy Ross sewed it all together…

My solution is to fly a traditional American Flag—either the Betsy Ross Flag or the (15-star) "Star-Spangled Banner". That way, one can express support for the American Constitutional Republic without supporting the American Empire. I particularly like the Star-spangled Banner, because 1814 was the last time that an American Flag flew over a truly constitutional republic, legitimately defending its citizens from unprovoked attacks by a foreign power. NOTE: You might be able to argue successfully that World War II was also a "just war", but by that time, the USA was no longer a Constitutional Republic—rather it was a fledgling Empire.

John Wallace

Re: Hoot 'n' Holler (9/3)

If you're not outraged…

Dear Mr. Cavanaugh:

Thanks for the observations on the reactions of various pundits to the Real Beverly Hillbillies. I certainly do share your annoyance with the self-righteous moralizings of those who can't stand for others to enjoy themselves in an irreverant manner, and of course I concur that the voluntary nature of the participation is sadly being ignored by these complainers. And I think the movie Trading Places may have been yet another example of the black/white switcheroo which was popular to explore a few years back.

But just for whatever it's worth, I would like to point out that the criticism of the original Beverly Hillbilllies, judging by the article you linked to anyway, hardly seems to be eerily similar to the current round, but I would say is possibly even the exact opposite. When critics of forty years ago complained of twanging banjos and dumbed down humor, were they expressing moral outrage at the show's supposed low opinion of southerners, or were they indulging in that view themselves? Furthermore, I would wonder if the original show's saving grace according to some circles, that it lampooned the snobs who rejected the Clampetts at least as much as the Clampetts themselves, will play out so clearly in the reality version. Well, I suppose only time will tell about that. And in any event, if I don't like it, I don't have to watch it.

Regards,

David Lichtenberg

Re: The Other of All Battles (8/30)

Rube Goldberg regime-change scenario explained

Dear Editor:

In his article "The Other of All Battles" Jacob Sullum argues that President Bush has not made a convincing case that Iraq poses a military threat to the US. Mr. Sullum may be right about that, but in fact defending against a military threat is not the true reason the administration wants to go to war with Iraq.

What the administration seeks is regime change not only in Iraq, but in most of the Islamic countries in the Middle East. The scenario is something like this: the anti-western, troublemaking regime in Iraq is overthrown and pragmatic moderates come to power. Life improves for the people of Iraq, and its neighbors are secretly relieved that the neighborhood bully is no longer around. The already considerable but hitherto intimidated movement in Iran to overthrow the mullahs is emboldened, and with a little help from Iraqi friends the moderates come to power amid general rejoicing. Syria calls for peace in the region and an end to terrorism.

With bases in Iraq the US pulls its troops out of Saudi Arabia. That gets rid of a sore spot within the Arab world and enables the US to start putting some distance between itself and the Saudi royal family. With decreased dependence on Saudi oil, the US is able to put pressure on the Saudis to gag the clergy who are the ideological source for much of our troubles, and to crack down on the billionaires who bankroll Al Qaeda and other such organizations.

Even if the attack on Iraq is technically an act of aggression, it is morally justified.

In the absence of widespread regime change of the sort I have described, the region will continue to be a breeding ground for terrorism against the US and its allies, and the situation will only get worse. The attack on Iraq is justified as a defense of our country and our civilization. It has the added benefit that it could be the first step on the path to a better life for all the people in the region.

It will be said that it is not the business of the US to change the governments of other countries. Since September 11, 2001 that principle is obsolete.

Yours truly,

Joe Willingham
Berkeley CA

Re: City of Brotherly Slums (8/29)

Philly Phanatic

Just read your article about Philadelphia. OK. some of your points are valid but …hey..

Haven't you heard about the fabulous new Kimmel Center—a venue for the best and brightest in the entertainment industry.

and—have you heard about the art project that has resulted in amazing art work on previously-grafitti-laden edifices??

On a recent trip to Philadelphia I was blown away by the courtesy of other drivers, the cleanliness of the City and the above-mentioned art work…. and I was only there for a few hours. (Didn't get a chance to check out the Kimmel but have heard lots about it).

The Art Museum is a week's activity in itself (all I had time to see were Rocky's footprints permanently installed in the sidewalk)… the Riverside drives are beautiful with lots of people running, skateboarding, walking, having picnics in Fairmount Park (which I heard is larger than Central Park)…. the quaint "boathouse row" with its line-up of adorable houses all trimmed and lit with white lights at night…. and swarming with athletes during the day from the many high-ranking schools in the area, including the Ivy Leaguers from nearby University of Pennsylvania. The stores in center city can challenge Paris and the Independence Square area is clean and inspiring

Give Philadelphia another chance!

(only an "outsider" would call it "Philly")

Joan Forry
A (reluctantly) transplanted Philadelphian!

Re: Help a Smoker: Show Him the Door (8/28)

Miners are breathing easy!

Mr. Sullum,

Just exactly what are you trying to infer in your closing paragraph when you reference loggers and miners? Are you inferring that there is something wrong with being a miner or logger, and producing the mineral, paper and wood products our society demands on a daily basis (and which enables you and I to use computers, etc.)? Are you attempting to infer there is a greater health risk to miners and loggers than breathing second-hand smoke? If you believe working in a mine today is more dangerous than breathing second hand smoke for 8 plus hours/day, then let me suggest you are out-of-touch with the health and safety record of today's modern, safe, and environmentally responsible mining industry.

Smoking is not an activity required to produce a sustainable community or society, but mining and logging are. Your closing paragraph is an insult to the tens of thousands of men and women who safely make their living and support their families in the US mining and wood products industries, creating new wealth and enabling to US to be the engine that drives the global economy. You owe those hard working Americans an apology.

Laura Skaer
Executive Director
Northwest Mining Association

Re: Roly-Poly Snakeheads (8/27)

A new rival

I loved your article on the snakehead fish. I had never heard of it before, and I'm sure someone has pointed out what I'm about to say, but… if these fish are able to leave the water and slither on land for a few days at a time, doesn't it sound like they're trying to escape from the primordial ooze and evolve into a new breed of human? I find that possibility to be quite disturbing, don't you?

Rhys Southan

Re: The Bold and the Boring (8/27)

Coulter's good for self-esteem

I got hold of her book the other day and I think I have figured out what it is for.

That is, to remind one's self just how careless, outrageous and just plain stupid the liberal line really is.

If Coulter spends time on ancient history, perhaps it is because sometimes it has relevance. Example—her explanation of the way the "religious right" has been treated as an explosion of Nazism one day, and the next day written off as a movement that has worn itself out. Over and over again, up and down. As Coulter says, the comparison to Orwell's perpetual phony war in 1984 is spooky.

But beyond that, the book makes a person feel good about themselves. For instance, she reminds us about they way the liberal media ripped people like Linda Tripp and Paula Jones up and down about how butt-ugly they were, while at the same time giving a pass to Janet Reno, Chelsea Clinton and Madeline Albright. Now on the one hand it makes me mad enough to stand up and say that Janet Reno has no business running for governor of my home state because she is such a fucking toad—but you know what? I would never do that. First of all, because it is the content of one's character that counts; and second of all, because I am not that sort of person. I was brought up to be polite. Liberals? James Carville? If he, for one, ever was brought up that way, he sure as hell doesn't show it now.

Nor do the lot of them. And that is what Coulter's book is all about.

Best regards

Mike Gallagher
Cape Coral FL

Miscellaneous

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