To the Editor:

You write (“The Lesson of North Korea,” editorial, Feb. 14), “We hope that Mr. Bush learns the most basic lesson of this week’s deal: sometimes you really do have to talk to your enemies, even if you have to grit your teeth.”

Speaking of gritting one’s teeth, I could figuratively hear your editorial teeth grind as you said something almost nice about the president. You seem frightened that he might yet “salvage” his presidency.

How glad I am to be a political independent and to be pleased when a president, whoever he may be, succeeds. That means the country succeeds.

You seem almost angry. Such is the price of making partisanship the first priority.

Ronald M. Holdaway
Draper, Utah, Feb. 14, 2007
The writer is a retired United States Army brigadier general.

Note from KBJ: Keith’s Law: Authoritativeness is inversely proportional to partisanship.