Correspondence

0 Comments | Insight on the News, July 17, 2000

James Carville Revels in Mucho Mexican Money

In regard to "Mexican Candidates Hire Clinton Team" [July 3-10], James Carville should fit in well with the ruling PRI party in Mexico. Perhaps he can help Mexico to improve as much as he has helped the United States in the last several years.

The millions of dollars the Mexicans are paying him should purchase some wonderful toys for his family, the sort of toys the people in Kosovo amused themselves with until their nation was destroyed. Oh, well, the cash will come in handy to salve a poor conscience.

C. Van Alstyne Fulton, N.Y.

Korean War Was Crucial to Victory in the Cold War

"A No-Win War?" is an excellent article [June 19]. I would argue that the checkmating of Soviet expansion in Iran in 1946, the defeat of the communist guerrillas in Greece (in which U.S. Army Gen. James Van Fleet played an important part) and the Berlin airlift also were major Soviet setbacks.

But the Korean War awakened a sleeping giant, initiated the arms race that ultimately destroyed the Soviet economy, demonstrated the superiority of the free market, led to a loss of faith in communism among the majority of the Russian people and broke the will of the Soviet leaders so that they went out with a whimper in August 1991.

Among other things, the Korean War led to a rebirth of an excellent U.S. Army. The young veterans who were my instructors in the 12th Engineer Officers Basic Course at Fort Belvoir, Va., in 1957 exemplified the spirit that won the Cold War. The privilege of serving as a platoon leader and company commander in the 317th Engineer Battalion in West Germany from 1957 to 1959 was a high point in my life, even though I achieved some measure of success as a consulting engineer.

I was able to tell my children when the Berlin Wall came down that I made a tiny contribution to the defeat of the communist monster.

George H. Beckwith Phoenix

The VA Lets Down America's Self-Sacrificing Veterans

"Vets Say the VA Is Not on Their Side" by Kelly Patricia O'Meara, which includes interviews with Arthur Bernklau, founder of Veterans for Constitutional Law, and Phil Cushman, president of Veterans Due Process, is a very timely and much-needed work [June 26].

I congratulate Insight on your excellent choice of news coverage and concern for the veterans who sacrificed much to make our country free.

Michael Buie USN, Ret. via the Internet

Kelly Patricia O'Meara's article on the Department of Veterans' Affairs, or VA, is very insightful. I was glad to see Insight has the intestinal fortitude to cover this topic fairly. The VA, which was intended to help veterans, has become the epitome of bureaucracy and red tape. I know from personal experience. I once told an employee of the VA Hospital in Atlanta that they should hang a new sign on the outpatient clinic: "Abandon hope all ye who enter here." Please continue to investigate and talk to real veterans who know.

Eddie Ball via the Internet

Ignorance Concerning Events in Central Asia Is Dangerous

I enjoyed "The Great Game in Central Asia" by Senior Editor Jamie Dettmer [June 12]. As a Finnish-American I watched the unfolding of events in the former Soviet Union with much interest.

For those unfamiliar with the recent history of Central Asia, I recommend the book Between Marx and Muhammad: The Changing Face of Central Asia, by Dilip Hiro, as a primer on the region. The ignorance and lack of concern of Americans about this area is troubling.

Wake up, everyone!

Henry Ryto Virginia Beach, Va.

Write: Insight, Correspondence Editor, 3600 New York Ave. N.E., Washington, DC 20002. E-mail: Insight@wt.infi.net. Fax: (202) 529-2484. Please include an address and daytime phone number. Letters may be edited for space.