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What does President Kennedy mean—making the U.S. the laughingstock by backing a weak, hopelessly inadequate invasion attempt on Cuba and saying: "The soft societies are about to be swept away with the debris of history"?
EVERETT A. HELLMUTH Hedgesville, W. Va.
Sir:
One is reminded of Anthony Eden and Suez, but there's a difference: we're stuck with our man for four years.
JOHN R. BURROUGHS
Steamboat Springs, Colo.
Sir:
You made some particularly stupid remarks regarding the "naive notions" that President Kennedy brought with him to the office of President of the U.S. Because of these "naive notions" he was elected President. I, for one, hope he doesn't lose a single one of them!
MRS. H. L. VAN CAMPEN Castro Valley, Calif.
Sir:
I know exactly how our President feels. I was once considered a good amateur boxer. Then came the first professional fight. Bang—pow—crash—wow!
CARL E. SCHULTZ
St. Joseph, Mich.
Sir:
Even in my wildest Republican dreams I could not have envisioned anything which could so quickly and completely tear down the image that the U.S. has worked so hard to build—of strength, tempered by honesty and nonintervention.
Let President Kennedy find some extraordinary hobby (parachute jumping, for instance) that will prove his "courage" at a risk to himself instead of to all of civilization.
HELEN FRANCIS
Hays, Kans.
Sir:
I note the news media are "crying" because of the so-called lack of free flow of information from the Pentagon. I personally hope the President imposes complete censorship until we actually have the Communists on the run.
This is a war we are in—not a cold war, but lukewarm to hot. Why are we telling these facts about the Cuban invasion? We don't give away our strategy or the strategy of our allies during total war.
If television, radio and newspapers continue to put the "big scoop" ahead of our nation's security and continue to show such irresponsibility, they are only asking for censorship.
EVELYNE L. GORDON Wichita, Kans.
Sir:
My faith as an American is reinforced by your objective reporting on the invasion of Cuba. Temporary reverses in foreign policy for our nation are endurable if the freedom to print the truth survives. I'm sure it was as disheartening for you to print the tale as it was for me to read it.
GERALD E. BROWN Chula Vista, Calif.
Sir:
In your account of "The Cuban Disaster," you quote Ramón Barquín, "a military expert of the Revolutionary Council." I am not nor have I been a military expert of the council, nor have I any official relationship to the council. I took no part in the planning or execution of this operation. In fact, as you point out, I doubt that any responsible Cuban was consulted or had any responsibility for this operation.
RAMÓN BARQUÍN Miami Springs, Fla.