Thursday, August 28, 2008

Media's Balancing Act

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/28/opinion/28kristof.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=kristof%20balancing&st=cse&oref=slogin
- Hide quoted text ----------- Forwarded message ----------From: barry levine <levinebar@gmail.com>Date: Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 8:43 AMSubject: Media's Balancing ActTo: letters@nytimes.com

- Hide quoted text -To the Editor: Mr. Kristof leads us through three hypothetical quandaries for the press, but stops short of the big one. The American people went to the polls in November 2004 unaware that our government was spying on us. Although this newspaper knew of president Bush's illegal domestic wiretaps, that story was withheld from the public for another year yet. Would we have voted the scoundrel out? Would we have voted in a congress with the mandate and the will to restore the rule of law? We can't know. The election was decided by an electorate who didn't have the facts. Call that "democracy" if you want.Barry Levine

After Musharraf, U.S. Struggles to Find New Pakistan Ally Against Taliban

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/23/world/asia/23assess.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=zardari&st=cse&oref=slogin - Hide quoted text ----------- Forwarded message ----------From: barry levine <levinebar@gmail.com>Date: Sat, Aug 23, 2008 at 4:48 PMSubject: After Musharraf, U.S. Struggles to Find New Pakistan Ally Against TalibanTo: letters@nytimes.com To the Editor: Were it only a matter of choosing which strongman to back, the U.S. would have already ceded out best option. The American electorate has expressed a desire for change. Surely this includes an embrace of the rule of law, rather than the rule of men, abroad as much as at home. Our relationships with Pinochet, Pahlevi, Marcos, Noriega, Minh and others stain the 20th century. If the 21st century is to be better than the last, it will be because the U.S. will have learned to respect Democracy.Barry Levine1142 Brown AveLafayette, CA 94549

After Musharraf, U.S. Struggles to Find New Pakistan Ally Against Taliban

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/23/world/asia/23assess.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=zardari&st=cse&oref=slogin
- Hide quoted text ----------- Forwarded message ----------From: barry levine <levinebar@gmail.com>Date: Sat, Aug 23, 2008 at 4:48 PMSubject: After Musharraf, U.S. Struggles to Find New Pakistan Ally Against TalibanTo: letters@nytimes.com

- Hide quoted text -To the Editor: It is important that we know the players in Pakistan's politics. The focus on personalities however feeds America's dirty habit of relating to people and not to governments. It is governments that make wars and treaties and alliances and laws. For too long the U.S. has backed leaders we deem friendly over their own constituents. The world will be safer for Democracy when the U.S. starts respecting voters, in Pakistan as much as here at home.Barry Levine

Friday, August 22, 2008

Iraq Takes Aim at U.S.-Tied Sunni Groups' Leaders

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/22/world/middleeast/22sunni.html?ref=todayspaper
- Hide quoted text ----------- Forwarded message ----------From: barry levine <levinebar@gmail.com>Date: Fri, Aug 22, 2008 at 10:11 AMSubject: Iraq Takes Aim at U.S.-Tied Sunni Groups' LeadersTo: letters@nytimes.com

- Hide quoted text -To the Editor: Two years ago, the U.S. administration de-emphasized building non-sectarian national institutions in Iraq in favor of empowering and arming sectarian groups. While these groups have enforced a peace of sorts in their own communities, this was never a path to a functioning Iraqi state. Now, one of these factions has launched a new attack on another. Can The Bush administration keep the lid on long enough to get McCain elected? For lack of any grander strategic vision, we may yet see our grandchildren patrolling an occupied Baghdad.Barry Levine

Hoping It's Biden

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/22/opinion/22brooks.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=david%20brooks&st=cse&oref=slogin
- Hide quoted text ----------- Forwarded message ----------From: barry levine <levinebar@gmail.com>Date: Fri, Aug 22, 2008 at 9:55 AMSubject: Hoping It's BidenTo: letters@nytimes.com

- Hide quoted text -To the Editor: For reasons too subtle for a dumb Democrat to grasp, my subscription to this paper underwrites a salary to David Brooks to condescend to tell us what to believe and whom to support. I can't change mr. Brooks' views, but I can find other uses for my money.Barry Levine

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Exiting Iraq, Petraeus Says Gains Are Fragile

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/21/world/middleeast/21general.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=petraeus&st=cse&oref=slogin
- Hide quoted text ----------- Forwarded message ----------From: barry levine <levinebar@gmail.com>Date: Thu, Aug 21, 2008 at 9:52 AMSubject: Exiting Iraq, Petraeus Says Gains Are FragileTo: letters@nytimes.com

To the Editor: No one should be surprised at general Petraeus' assessment that Iraq can't survive an American pullout. Those in the American government who have long wanted an indefinite American presence in the Middle East have engineered an Iraq that requires Americans to keep the sectarian factions from each others' throats. General Petraeus acknowledges that "it's not stable yet". It will never be stable. As soon as we pull out American troops and contractors a year from now or sixty years from now, Iraq will either dissolve in a bloodbath, or will be held together in the iron grasp of a new tyrant. The question we must ask is what do we gain in delaying that day. Is it worth someone's son coming home in a bag?Barry Levine- -1142 Brown AveLafayette, CA 94549

How a Spat Became a Showdown

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/18/washington/18diplo.html?_r=1&sq=spat%20became%20a%20showdown&st=cse&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&scp=1&adxnnlx=1219082925-Ydcn4QyN8c7Qt3eIw0mStQ- Hide quoted text -

---------- Forwarded message ----------From: barry levine <levinebar@gmail.com>Date: Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 11:15 AMSubject: How a Spat Became a ShowdownTo: letters@nytimes.com

To the Editor: The first president Bush famously incited the Iraqis to revolt after the first gulf war, then stood by while a resurgent Saddam Hussein massacred them. The current president Bush led the Georgians to believe that their troops in a second Iraq war had bought them an ally; now he makes outraged noises as a resurgent Russia re-establishes its influence if not its empire in the Caucasus. In president Bush's second term, Americans should be embarrassed at our own failure to learn. We must hope that the rest of the world doesn't learn that we are an unreliable ally.Barry Levine1142 Brown AveLafayette, CA 94549

Friday, August 15, 2008

Mukasey Won't Pursue Charges in Hiring Inquiry III

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/12/washington/13justice.html?scp=2&sq=mukasey&st=cse- Hide quoted text -

---------- Forwarded message ----------From: barry levine <levinebar@gmail.com>Date: Thu, Aug 14, 2008 at 12:08 AMSubject: Mukasey Won't Pursue Charges in Hiring InquiryTo: letters@nytimes.com

To the Editor: Attorney General Mukasey has said "Where there is enough evidence to charge someone with a crime, we vigorously prosecute". We have a public confession from president Bush that he violated criminal provisions of the 1978 FISA statute in authorizing wiretaps on Americans without court warrants. Tuchas offen tisch! If that isn't evidence of a crime, you will have to show that the president was either coerced or incompetent. This should be entertaining.Barry Levine1142 Brown AveLafayette, CA 94549

Mukasey Won't Pursue Charges in Hiring Inquiry II

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/12/washington/13justice.html?scp=2&sq=mukasey&st=cse
---------- Forwarded message ----------From: barry levine <levinebar@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Aug 13, 2008 at 11:18 AMSubject: Mukasey Won't Pursue Charges in Hiring InquiryTo: letters@nytimes.com

- Hide quoted text -To the Editor: Presidents Ford and Nixon disagreed on the implications of the pardon. While president Ford maintained that in accepting the pardon Nixon had admitted guilt, Nixon continued to assert that "when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal". Congress responded with the FISA statute of 1978, clarifying that spying can be conducted on our own citizens only with a court order. Our courts have duly ruled that this applies even to the president of the United States. Now Attorney General Mukasey has made clear that his Department of Justice is more loyal to the president than to the constitution. Our retreat from a society ruled by laws to one ruled by men is breathtaking. Barry Levine1142 Brown AveLafayette, CA 94549

Mukasey Won't Pursue Charges in Hiring Inquiry

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/12/washington/13justice.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=mukasey&st=cse&oref=slogin
- Hide quoted text ----------- Forwarded message ----------From: barry levine <levinebar@gmail.com>Date: Wed, Aug 13, 2008 at 10:31 AMSubject: Mukasey Won't Pursue Charges in Hiring InquiryTo: letters@nytimes.com

- Hide quoted text -To the Editor: the 1978 FISA statute provides criminal consequences to wiretaps on Americans without court warrants. President Bush has very publicly confessed to breaking this law. Now Attorney General Mukasey says "Where there is enough evidence to charge someone with a crime, we vigorously prosecute". I think he's lying, but the ball's in his court.Barry Levine- Hide quoted text -1142 Brown AveLafayette, CA 94549

Russia Steps Up Its Push; West Faces Tough Choices

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/12/world/europe/12diplo.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=substantially%20damaged%20russia's%20standing&st=cse&oref=slogin
- Hide quoted text ----------- Forwarded message ----------From: barry levine <levinebar@gmail.com>Date: Tue, Aug 12, 2008 at 11:47 AMSubject: Russia Steps Up Its Push; West Faces Tough ChoicesTo: letters@nytimes.com

To the Editor: President Bush betrays only the dimmest grasp of events when he scolds "These actions have substantially damaged Russia's standing in the world". It is precisely because Putin feels that Russia's standing in the world was damaged by the breakup of the Soviet Union in the last century that he feels the need for this war in Georgia. It is because the standing of the U.S. in the word has been damaged by president Bush's unilateral adventures of the last seven years that Putin feels free to act without regard for the world's opinion. Our country may not deserve better leadership than we have, but in these times we need it.Barry Levine1142 Brown Ave Lafayette, CA 94549

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Russia Steps Up Its Push; West Faces Tough ChoicesTo

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/12/world/europe/12diplo.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=substantially%20damaged%20russia's%20standing&st=cse&oref=slogin
- Hide quoted text ----------- Forwarded message ----------From: barry levine <levinebar@gmail.com>Date: Tue, Aug 12, 2008 at 11:47 AMSubject: Russia Steps Up Its Push; West Faces Tough ChoicesTo: letters@nytimes.com

To the Editor: President Bush betrays only the dimmest grasp of events when he scolds "These actions have substantially damaged Russia's standing in the world". It is precisely because Putin feels that Russia's standing in the world was damaged by the breakup of the Soviet Union in the last century that he feels the need for this war in Georgia. It is because the standing of the U.S. in the word has been damaged by president Bush's unilateral adventures of the last seven years that Putin feels free to act without regard for the world's opinion. Our country may not deserve better leadership than we have, but in these times we need it.Barry Levine1142 Brown Ave Lafayette, CA 94549

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Where's the Landslide?

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/05/opinion/05brooks.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=david-brooks&st=cse&oref=slogin
- Hide quoted text -
---------- Forwarded message ----------From: barry levine <levinebar@gmail.com>Date: Tue, Aug 5, 2008 at 11:37 AMSubject: Where's the Landslide?To: letters@nytimes.com
To the Editor: As mr. Brooks observes "This should be a Democratic wipeout". Withtwo unpopular wars sustained only by stop-loss orders, with the dollardebased, a shrinking job-market and growing numbers of Americanslosing their homes, this presidential contest should be an electionthat no Republican can win. So what is the intangible element on theother side? It's hard to count the closet bigots who will never votefor a black man. They have learned to encode this in ways that won'tget them in trouble, but they continue to base the important decisionsabout our nation's direction on racist beliefs from another century.Mr. Brooks feeds these people rationales for their votes that to masktheir racism, but he offers neither news nor analysis for this paper'sreaders.Barry Levine1142 Brown AveLafayette, CA 94549

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

The XY Games

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/opinion/03boylan.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=the%20XY%20games&st=cse&oref=slogin
- Hide quoted text -
---------- Forwarded message ----------From: barry levine <levinebar@gmail.com>Date: Sun, Aug 3, 2008 at 9:19 AMSubject: The XY GamesTo: letters@nytimes.com
To the Editor: Dismissing the best efforts of the IOC to put men in the men'sevents and women in the women's events, professor Boylan challengesthe conclusion that athletes with one X and one Y chromosome--butinsensitive to testosterone--are men. She writes: "By any measure,though (except the measure of the Olympic test), they are women." Imarvel that this howler got past an editor. While we may rhapsodizeover the emotional, spiritual and intellectual dimensions of theOlympics, they remain physical contests, with tangible measures ofvictory, constrained by our too, too solid flesh. There are sports inwhich men and women can and should compete in the same events withoutany distinction. For the rest, the IOC tests of gender properly makephysical distinctions of physical characteristics.Barry Levine1142 Brown AveLafayette, CA 94549

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Couch Potato to Mr. Mighty with Pills Alone

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/01/science/01muscle.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=couch%20potatoes&st=cse&oref=slogin
- Hide quoted text -
---------- Forwarded message ----------From: barry levine <levinebar@gmail.com>Date: Sat, Aug 2, 2008 at 2:31 PMSubject: Couch Potato to Mr. Mighty with Pills AloneTo: letters@nytimes.com
To the Editor: It is exciting that researchers have succeeded in decouplingmuscle growth from exercise. One must wonder if they have likewisedecoupled muscle growth from the rest of the musculo-skeletal system.Will sedentary users of such a drug trade their couches for operatingtables when their beefed-up muscles rip their underdeveloped tendonsoff their atrophied bones?Barry Levine1142 Brown AveLafayette, CA 94549

Missing Dean Acheson

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/01/opinion/01brooks.html?scp=4&sq=david%20brooks&st=cse
- Hide quoted text -
---------- Forwarded message ----------From: barry levine <levinebar@gmail.com>Date: Fri, Aug 1, 2008 at 9:16 AMSubject: Missing Dean AchesonTo: letters@nytimes.com
To the Editor: Mr. Brooks asks why the U.S. can't exercise leadership in the worldtoday, and then erects a smokescreen to keep us from the answer. InSeptember of 2001, the world reacted in horror and solidarity to theattacks on the World Trade Center and the pentagon. People andgovernments around the world lined up to join a broad coalition underAmerican leadership to eliminate the threat from Al Qaeda. A millionmen marched in Teheran, the governments around the world, includingthose of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan offered their aid. All that wasneeded was for the American president to step up. Instead, George W.Bush preferred to grab the extraordinary powers of a war-time leader.He called for "crusade", thereby instantly alienating our front-lineallies in this fight. Bold initiatives like the Marshall Plan aren't lacking becausepower has become spread among more nations. Bold initiatives arelacking because the U.S. lacks a leader.Barry Levine1142 Brown AveLafayette, CA 94549

Friday, August 1, 2008

Drilling in Afghanistan

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/30/opinion/30friedman.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=drilling-in-afghanistan&st=cse&oref=slogin- Hide quoted text -

---------- Forwarded message ----------From: barry levine <levinebar@gmail.com>Date: Wed, Jul 30, 2008 at 9:56 AMSubject: Drilling in AfghanistanTo: letters@nytimes.com

To the Editor: Mr. Friedman blithely treats all of the Muslim world as if it were a monolithic problem. He knows better. Our burning problem is not with the states of the Muslim world, but with the non-state actors who flourish in the failed states. While the Saudi monarch is organizing peace conferences to enhance inter-faith understanding and cooperation, international terrorist organizations are flourishing in Afghanistan and Lebanon. To lump all of these together as "one war" is dishonest and unhelpful. Six years ago, Iraq was a functioning state. Now it is a battleground for sectarian factions, held in check only by the U.S. occupying forces. If we are to prevail over the international terrorists, we should take care to provide fewer centers for their recruitment and training, rather than more.Barry Levine1142 Brown AveLafayette, CA 94549