THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 20, 1996 TAG: 9607200003
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 32 lines
Your featured report (July 1) on President Clinton eulogizing the 19 airmen who lost their lives in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, gives credence to the charge that the liberal media coddle this administration.
The article reported Clinton quoting Scripture in which God wonders, ``Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?'' and Isaiah answering, ``Here I am Lord. Send me.''
Isn't it ironic that this coward, who fled the country when it was his turn to ``go for us,'' receives good press for lauding those who answered the call? This from the person who not only avoided serving his country in uniform, but actively undermined those who did answer the call.
The real tragedy at Dhahran is our inept foreign policy. Did we not learn anything from the tragic deaths of our Marines in Lebanon?
Perimeter security had to be foremost on our minds, especially in view of open threats by militant anti-American elements of Saudi society.
How could the U.S. secretary of state have permitted the Saudis to define limits of our perimeter security?
How could Washington allow Saudi policies to jeopardize the lives of our personnel who were in their country to protect them?
And why hasn't your newspaper expressed these sentiments?
Instead, you allow Clinton to don the cloak of a caring, religious person pledging to bring those responsible to justice.
Let him start with himself.
DONALD R. RAY
Chesapeake, July 8, 1996 by CNB