Wednesday, February 16, 2011

To letters@newsweek.com

Your Feb 21 piece on the drone strikes essentially failed to question their legality or question the massive (> 32%) civilian casualties they cause. You are content to cite, unexamined, an anonymous government official's statement that they are legal. A throwaway mention of the civilian toll is postponed to the end of the article, when you've already gone on at some length at how precise, bureaucratic, advantageous, and wonderful these assassinations are. Where are the critics? Is it that hard to find the ACLU, for instance?

Your article falls so far short of The New Yorker's articles on the same subject that it's embarrassing. I wish I could say I was surprised by this typically craven act of water-carrying for US foreign policy on the part of Newsweek.

Jeffrey Carlson,
Medford MA

6 comments:

  1. The front page of this week's Newsweek is a very cheap shot! While I am not a supporter of this particular candidate, I think this is a new low for so called journalism. What modeling for all, especially our youth,in civility and respect for each other. No wonder Washington can't get anything done! All are to blame in DC-not just the minority Tea Party members, who may be the scape goats in this picture. The American people are able to judge for themselves. Give them credit for being smarter than you think they are. They are certainly smarter than the pundits, and the current representatives. Where and when does greed stop? Are Congressmen and women going to be a part of Obamacare-like the rest of us? Will they give up Social Security or their full salaries in retirement? Who else gets such benefits outside of CEOs? Their has been no change in Washington and "hope" is dimming quickly!!

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  2. "NO REPUBLICAN CASA BLANCA"
    MR. BEGALA IS RIGTH, THE GOP IS NOT GOING TO GET THE LATINO VOTE IF THEY DO NOT CHANGE THEIR TENURE AGAINST US (ARIZONA, ALABAMA, SOUTH CAROLINA,ETC..) ARE A FEW SAMPLES OF THE EFFORT THAT THEY ARE DOING TRYING TO STOP THE LATINO INMIGRATION INTO THESE STATES. EVEN THAT MR. OBAMA HAS NOT KEEP HIS PROMISES ABOUT AN INMIGRATION LAW AND THE DEPORTATION OF MORE THAN A MILLION UNDOCUMENTED. WE PREFER HIM THAN THE RACISM OF THE REPUBLICANS, THAT IS THE NAKED TRUE THAT IS GROWING BETWEEN SOME OF THEM. THEY FORGOT AS MANY OTHERS THAT IF THE LATINO POPULATION IS THE FASTES GROWING SEGMENT IN THE COUNTRY IS NOT JUST THE INMIGRATION OF MANY OF US, IS ALSO THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN LIVING IN THIS COUNTRY SINCE THE 19th CENTURY (ARIZONA, TEXAS,FLORIDA, NUEVO MEXICO AND CALIFORNIA) FIRST SPOKEN LANGUAGE WAS SPANISH. SO WHO IS THE INMIGRANT IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY? THEY MUST REMEMBER ALSO THAT WE PAY TAXES EVERYDAY, BECAUSE WHEN WE GO TO A STORE OR A GAS STATION, I NEVER HEARD THE CASHIER SAYING "YOU DO NOT PAY TAXES, BECAUSE YOU ARE UNDOCUMENTED". WE ARE NOT IN THIS COUNTRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SYSTEM LIKE MANY OTHERS DO, WE CAME HERE TO GET A BETTER LIFE FOR US AND OUR CHILDREN, WE ARE HARDWORKING CLASS AND WE TRY THAT OUR CHILDREN KEEP THAT PATH. WHO DID NOT? FINALLY THIS GREAT COUNTRY WAS FORGED BY THE INMIGRATION. REPUBLICAN MUST REMEMBER, IF THEY WANT MORE LATINO VOTES. TO ACT THE WAY THAT RONALD REAGAN DID, HE ALWAYS WAS A HUMAN BEEN AND ONE OF THE BEST PRESIDENTS OF AMERICA, BECAUSE OF THAT. HE NEVER PUT HIS INTEREST OR HIS FRIENDS INSTEREST BEFORE THE PEOPLE (ROMNEY-SUPER PACS). ALEJANDRO DANIEL. CATHEDRAL CITY, CA.

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  3. The author you mention on 76 is Helen MacInnes, not Heather.

    A 60s reader.

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  4. 7-19-12 All of a sudden I've got interested in women's soccer. Why? Because of the feature article "Flying Solo" that appeared in Newsweek's July 23-30th edition. I never had any particular interest in women's sports until I read the motivating story of Hope Solo's battle against adversity to overcome so many obstacles to reach out to represent The U.S. in The 2008 Olympics team that won the gold with Hope in the goalie position.Besides the motivation of Hope's tremendous effort is how well the author, Andrew Romano depicted Hope's adversities that were overcome - it would seem as if he was a member of Hope's family in the way he captured her sentiments. George Jordan 6218 Meadow Run Court Norcross, GA 30092 Tel 770 409 9115 MY NEWSWEEK SUBSCRIPTION #1950101098538873

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  5. Concerning the article by contributing author
    Michael Tomasky, I'm certainly glad that this is
    America where freedom of speech is still alive.
    For your information Mr Tomasky, youré dead wrong about your comments concerning Mitt Romney. He kind sir is the Only candidate we have that is worthy to be President.The one we
    have now is more of a wimp as you call him than
    Mr. Romney.Any one who will not lay his hand on
    the bible to be sworn in does not deserve to be President of the greatest country on the face of this earth.But rest ye well assured sir, that Him, You & me and every person who is alive now, has ever lived or is to yet live
    will one day get on his knees and Declare that
    Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father................

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  6. As you will not longer be sending Newsweek by mail. My wish is not to recieve newsweek by e-mail. I have tried to call on the phone but your one and only line is always full. What a way to cut people off. No address to write and let you know what our wishes are in your your change. In your Dec 10, 2012 on page 10 you spoke if we use to cancel to notify you, smart move people no address.

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