To the Editor:

I am neither conservative nor liberal and in fact wince at the terms Americans so casually throw about these days. I am, however, a mother and former naval aviator who is unable to sit idly by while the Petraeus-bashing commences.

The funny thing about Americans and those who hide behind vehement assertions of love for this country is that they have no understanding of those who choose to defend it. Military service members are neither brain-dead followers nor war-mongering hawks. They are the same as the average American, yet they choose to put their lives on the line and choose to put their faith in the American people.

Military members have a job to do and have surrendered their fate to the belief that America will not put them in places they don’t belong. They do not have time to consider political backbiting and innuendo.

They follow their leaders and obey orders, not without personal retrospection or question, but with a focus on duty to country.

I have no doubt that Gen. David H. Petraeus called the situation as he saw it with pure intentions and a mind to safeguard his biggest assets, his men on the ground. If the American people want to question the handling of the war, that is their right and privilege. If the American people want to question General Petraeus’s allegiance and honesty, they have nowhere to look but in the mirror.

Beth Thurman
Fort Worth, Sept. 11, 2007

Note from KBJ: Amen. This is as fine a rebuke to the New York Times as I have seen.