Reader Comments

Editor: Your editorial "The Limits of Empire" reminded me of the new book by my pal Robert Merry, Sands of Empire. All the best, NF

Editor: Can The US Empire Last? Not if present trends continue. If government spending is any indicator, then the United States will fall soon. Transfer and redistribution payments (taking from those who create and giving to those who do not) are growing as a percentage of "national income" More people claim disability than ever before. America is in serious demographic decline. Public education has failed, and the two "solutions" are to redefine standards down, so that it appears things are improving; more money to reward failure, immigration is totally out of control. Homeland Security has inconvenienced the law-abiding and turned the USA from a Republic into a Police State. But like gun-control laws, it has done nothing to make the nation more secure, and only inconvenienced terrorists-- who use the open borders, instead of airports. Internationally, George Bush has set the US up for failure in Iraq. Failure in Iraq will seriously devalue the full faith and credit of the United States. With no strategy, and no coherent mission, the risks of failure are escalating. Once the sense develops that the US is led by incompetent or stupid people, then no US interests are secure, and no US led initiative will ever inspire much confidence. Brian Lynch, FYI Econometrics, Austin, TX

Editor: I very much liked your editorial about the over-extension of U.S. empire.  Reminds me a bit of Paul Kennedy's warnings from the '80s.  Bill Colley, Morning Host, WFBL Radio, Syracuse, NY

Editor: Can I make a suggestion regarding your editorial on empire?  The Conservative and Liberal labels are confusing and confounding many citizens who are turning off before they hear the message. The American Constitutional Republic Foundation could say the same thing but with ears open and not closed.  A huge percentage of citizens believe in the Constitution even though all we hear today is Democracy, Democracy, Democracy.  Wrong, Wrong, Wrong!  I publish 18 e-newsletters each month and get a lot of feedback.. William Prouty, Champions For Life Foundation, PO Box 989, Sun City, CA 92586-0989

Editor: I find it in bad taste for you to use the word "empire" in relation to the USA in the teaser for your editorial, "Can the U.S. Empire Last?" We are not an empire, we do not have an emperor, and we are not a group of countries under a single authority.  I only expect to hear the drivel that we are an empire from liberals who would prefer an empire dominated by their control.  They would call it the United Nations.  Fortunately we will not allow this. Howie Mirkin

Editor: Excellent article by Michael Connelly on his sons and the truth in Iraq. On all sides, conservative, liberal, in between, whatever, if only people would realize all the good going on behind the scenes in Iraq.  If only people would listen to "the latest" news with a critical attitude.  In the Bible it states to the effect that: the Bereans were more noble than the Thessalonians because when they heard something they checked it out to see if it was so. Wkp

Editor: Regarding Elaine Donnelly's article against using women in combat roles, I am a sergeant in the Unites States Army. I have in fought in Iraq, and fully understand what combat is.  I am by no means a sexist.  But people in our society need to understand that it is a scientific fact that the male and female bodies are just made different.  The average female cannot carry a 110lb rucksack, pick up a 240lb wounded man.  Another fine example would be in the case of a woman having to conduct hand to hand combat.  The average woman would lose this fight.  Yes, there are exceptions to the rule. There is always an exception to the rule.  The money it would take to train every female that may or may not even make it through advanced infantry training would be far too much.  If every female that wanted to be infantry could just sign up for it, that would waste a qualified male's slot and waste tax payers money.  Are there woman who could perform to standard? Yes; are there enough to make it worth it to allow all of them to try? NO.  Our bodies are made differently, accept it. SGT William Pearson

Editor: We've found that conservative opponents of women in combat will do just about anything, play any kind of rhetorical games, to avoid two facts. One is that it's working. The other is that Mr. Bush, as commander-in-chief, can solve this problem by the stroke of a pen. Just order all the women out and anyone who opposes it can find themselves a new job. PG, Seattle

Editor: I read with interest Dr. Donald J. Devine's essay on your website, "Why We Are Conservative" (http://www.acuf.org/principles/index.asp) It was very enlightening as to the roots of modern conservatism, and the need (sometimes uneasy) for coalition building within the more traditional groups. In the essay, the author describes four groups, and re-defines them in the current idiom, except for the last. Can you define for me "Fatalists"? I really don't understand what group he would be referring to by that term. I will confess that I am a liberal, by my own definition, but I make an effort to get information from multiple sources. I found your site (or at least the one you are attached to, American Conservative Union Foundation) to be clear-eyed and fairly rhetoric-free. Very refreshing. All my best, Susan DePalma