‘Balance’ in war means fighting never ends

Secretary of State John Kerry said aid to Syrian rebels would balance their fight (“White House to send military supplies to Syrian rebels,” June 13 Review-Journal). If the Civil War, World War I and World War II had been “balanced,” we would still be fighting. The United States tried fighting a “balanced” war in Korea, Afghanistan and Vietnam, and we got our butts kicked.

Will we ever have a commander in chief or secretary of state who actually wants to win? Mr. Kerry was an officer in the U.S. Navy during Vietnam. One would think he would have learned something about strategy. Balanced fighting keeps the arms manufacturers employed. What a waste of resources.

When Israel goes to war, its goal is to win, not to “balance.”

NORRIS INMAN

LAS VEGAS

Casting stones

To the editor:

Seeing all the sponsors and companies drop celebrity chef Paula Deen’s name and products is like watching a re-enactment of the Salem witch trials. Here is a good human being who happened to use a racial slur in her past and had no trouble telling it to the world. She could have lied about it, but she did the honest thing.

I’m reminded of the passage, “He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone.” I wonder how many of us can look back 20 or 30 years (if you’re that old) and say you never said such a thing. We let our politicians lie, cheat, steal and do nothing. Yesterday’s world is not today’s. The past is not as important as the present or the future. Let’s move on.

JOE SCHAERER

LAS VEGAS

Boehner’s leadership

To the editor:

The U.S. Senate passed immigration reform legislation by a large majority, including all Democrats and many Republicans. House Speaker John Boehner has decided that despite the overwhelming support in the Senate, he will not bring this legislation to a vote in the House unless it will pass with the majority of House Republicans.

Because the Republicans are the majority party in the House of Representatives and despite the requirement of a simple majority to pass legislation in the House, Rep. Boehner has decided, by insinuation, that he is going to make the House of Representatives a single-party branch of our Congress. He no longer recognizes the will of the people.

DEAN TOMSA

MESQUITE