Latest news with #Declarations
Wall Street Journal
4 days ago
- General
- Wall Street Journal
What Do Students Think of War? A Vet Reports
I can't help but feel that Peggy Noonan wrote her column 'Memorial Day and the Best Movies of Our Lives' while wearing rose-colored glasses (Declarations, May 24). She writes that 'we're all recovering from World War II, or any war, or any era, together.' That's a nice thought, but it was far from my experience when I left the Marine Corps and went to college in 2014. I was more often called a 'cog in the military-industrial complex,' a 'mindless drone' or a 'baby-killer' than shown compassion or understanding by my peers, who had no connection to or real knowledge of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. When I tried to explain to the feminists in my English class some of the things I saw regarding the treatment of women overseas, they told me, 'That doesn't really happen.' People will always have different views on wars, but we've entered an era of denial, distortion and revisionist history. These experiences didn't end after my time in academia either. I hope Ms. Noonan will forgive me for not sharing her feelings of togetherness. Much of America has lost the plot about Memorial Day. I pray we can find it again someday. Daniel Carpenter
Wall Street Journal
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
Michael Corleone's Counsel for Donald Trump
Regarding Peggy Noonan's column 'Canada, Our Friend, Deserves Better Than This' (Declarations, April 5): As a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen, I agree that the Trump administration's diplomacy with Ottawa has been too disrespectful. Still, its approach may bring about positive developments. Canadians for years have had a smug sense of conceit of their cultural superiority over the U.S. Given President Trump's approach, however, they seem to be coming to the overdue realization they have to do more for themselves. That includes eliminating interprovincial trade barriers, increasing defense spending, addressing unfeasible immigration policies that have led to housing and social-service shortages and ramping up trade negotiations with other nations. Our neighbors now have the opportunity to prove their renowned politeness and grace by admitting that U.S. trade actions and rhetoric, though unartful, have led to introspection that could prove very beneficial.
Wall Street Journal
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
The Signal ‘Bros' Should Learn to Shape Up
Regarding Peggy Noonan's 'A New Administration's Signal Failure' (Declarations, March 29), while I agree that the administration's communications were reckless and irresponsible, I still feel safe with the 'bros,' as Ms. Noonan refers to them, who are taking care of our national security. For four years we had a president who was an empty vessel and wouldn't even know how to send a message on Signal. He alone posed the greatest security risk of my lifetime. I'll take the 'kids' and 'bros' we have now any day. At least they can understand and communicate when a crisis of any magnitude comes our way. Rozlyn Patterson Naperville, Ill. Ms. Noonan's advice to our nation's leaders involved in the Signal mess to 'stop acting like kids' was right on target. Or, as my dad, an Air Force command pilot with more than 10,000 flight hours, would say: 'Straighten up and fly right! Safety is no accident.' Kathleen Kingscott Cabin John, Md. Ms. Noonan seems more concerned with form than results. Yet she might have mentioned that the operation against the Houthis was highly successful, contrasting that with the Biden administration's tepid or nonexistent responses to the terror group's attacks in recent years. The success of this operation won't 'go unnoticed in any foreign capital' and will far outweigh any negative consequences of the 'messaging mess.' By my lights, it's this administration's propensity for action that will 'give the world a picture of a new administration.' To wit, you mess with the U.S. at your own peril. David B. Gerges Bonita Springs, Fla. I love the Journal, not least for its willingness to present various opinions on the same issue. Take Ms. Noonan's column, in which she states that the 'Signal mess is a real mess, not something that will fade away quickly,' equating it to JFK's Bay of Pigs disaster. On the same page, Holman W. Jenkins, Jr. writes that 'the leak isn't the end of the world; it didn't endanger U.S. forces and the military strikes were successful' ('Leak Scandal Can Be GOP Lemonade,' Business World). There is a lot to understand about this issue, and I appreciate the diversity of opinion that these editorial pages provide. Randy Gaston Savannah, Ga.
