There were a couple of responses to William Campenni's letter in the original publication. Here they are.

Writer Should Not Attack Patriots

To the editor:

William Campenni, in his letter in The Observer on May 23, states "While our wonderful freedoms, won and protected by the military that liberals (a.k.a. Democrats) ... abhor ..."

Well, I am proudly a lifelong liberal, a Democrat, a veteran of World War II (while I served my outfit was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation and nine Campaign Stars). How dare this "weekend warrior" who took refuge in the Texas Air National Guard, who was never in a war zone, charge me in public with abhoring the military in which I enlisted and served with honor for three years?

I don't really care what kind of spin Mr. Campenni puts on President Bush's controversial military career, but he ought not to go after real patriots and shame himself by so blatantly showing his right-wing Republican zealotry.

Edgar A. Glick

Reston

Bush Avoided Combat

To the editor:

I am responding to comments by L. Boyd and William Campenni regarding George W. Bush's prior military service. It is no surprise they would jump to the defense of their Caesar in the making.

The Republicans are a cult of believers that they can do no wrong. Whatever they say or do is right, and everyone else must march in step with them or be the bad guys.

The reality of the matter is that President Bush used his family's influence to avoid combat duty in Vietnam, no matter how you twig it.

Albert L. Stewart

Reston