Letters

National Review, Dec 31, 2001

In David Pryce-Jones's words ("The New Cold War," Nov. 5), "Communism turned out to be the Russian national interest in disguise." One wishes this were so. However, the collapse of the Soviet regime left Communists in power in China, North Korea, Vietnam, and Cuba. True, the West did win the Cold War, but our victory was incomplete.

Brian Crozier

London, England

I was disappointed to see the following from David Pryce-Jones: ". . . so far as is known, Britain is the only NATO country yet to provide any material help" to the U.S. in its response to September 11.

Canada, a NATO member, has contributed six naval vessels and 2,000 naval and air-force personnel. Given the size of Canada's armed forces, this is a major contribution. Additionally, a battalion of Canadian soldiers, consisting of some 1,000, is preparing to go to Afghanistan. All in all, not a bad response from this small NATO player!

Stu Donaldson

Nanaimo, B.C., Canada

I have a thick folder of articles that I have cut out from National Review, for future reference and/or because they elucidate a particular event or idea. I'll not be cutting any out from the Nov. 19 issue. Instead, I am keeping the entire issue. The six articles under the "At War" heading are particularly informative, enlightening, and thought- provoking; I'm sure that I will be rereading them many times.

William T. Burns

Metairie, La.

I want to express my appreciation for elucidating articles such as Paul Johnson's "Why West Is Best" (Dec. 3).

Your magazine does a great service by helping readers understand the framework of logic that supports a justification of the defense of our capitalist system.

While well-seasoned readers may not have found the historical lesson to be particularly scintillating, I think a frequent review of the principles and processes that make freedom possible is a good investment, and one on which I am happy to capitalize.

Janet M. Bruster

Fredericksburg, Tex.

The Dec. 3 cover, with its "Here We Go Again" and "Islam & the West" and the Crusader art, is incredibly destructive to our president's effort to focus this war on anti-terrorism.

No matter the content of the articles, a fanatic can wave this cover as "proof" that we are out to destroy Islam. From a fine publication that decries the sadly successful liberal strategy of "divide and victimize," this cover is beyond belief.

Michael J. Markey

Seattle, Wash.

The cover of my Dec. 3 issue has left me in disappointment and disbelief. We couldn't, and don't expect to, win a war on Islam. In fact, we can't win the war on terrorism without Islam.

John F. Crosby, M.D.

Naples, Fla.

Is the horse George W. Bush is riding a classic Arabian on purpose?

Paul Kelly

Boulder, Colo.