Cultural Attaches Are Meritorious

Dance has long been used by America in its cultural exchanges with other countries, contrary to the impression given by Pia Catton in the Sun [“Dance as International Outreach,” On the Town, January 18, 2005].

Among the ballet companies sent to the Soviet Union, to name only one country, the State Department (not USIA) sent American Ballet Theater (1960 and 1966), New York City Ballet (1962 and 1972), Joffrey Ballet (1963 and 1974), Alvin Ailey Dance Theater (1970), Jose Limon Dance Company (1973), and Paul Taylor Dance Company (1978).

And American cultural attaches did not spend their time “sipping cocktails on embassy verandas,” as claimed by Ms. Patton. We worked long hours, seven days a week, on cultural exchanges.

YALE RICHMOND
Washington, D.C.
The writer, a former Foreign Service Officer, is the author of “Cultural Exchange and the Cold War: Raising the Iron Curtain” (Penn State University Press, 2003)

Revolt in Rockaway

Much credit must be given to Tom Lynch, Stuart Mirsky, Denis Greco and the other Rockaway Republicans who hosted the January 11 summit on the peninsula [“Revolt in Rockaway,” John P. Avlon, Opinion, January 18, 2005]. They have performed a tremendous service to the GOP, and to democracy in the city and state of New York. The event proved to be the point of critical mass for Thomas Ognibene in his decision to enter the mayoral fray. Although it was not intended, a major part of the meeting devolved into spontaneous harsh criticism of Mayor Bloomberg. Mr. Bloomberg has so arrogantly dismissed the GOP, and so grievously disrespected traditional values and Republican principles, that any artificial attempt to prevent the dam of reality from bursting was bound to be futile.

Of what benefit is a “semblance of power in City Hall” if Gotham is not being governed in accordance with the Republican and conservative principles, which saved this city in the 1990s? And of what benefit is a “semblance of power in City Hall” if it does not translate into party-building and the appointment of real Republicans to positions of influence in city government?

Mr. Avlon stated that Queens County GOP chairman, Senator Maltese, “has indicated his intention to stand by the mayor.” This indeed is news to many GOP and Conservative activists in Queens. Throwing out illusory lifelines to Mr. Bloomberg will not help him to countenance reality. As far as the grassroots of the GOP are concerned, he has long exceeded his “use by date.”

Any inference that Mr. Ognibene is a reactionary fringe candidate is laughable. He embodies the true values of Republicans, Conservatives, and conservative Democrats. As the council minority leader during the 1990s, he was the administration’s point man in that forum. As such, he was an essential actor in the Giuliani Revolution, which pulled this city back from the edge of the abyss.

Mr. Ognibene is a regular middle-class guy from Queens. He is of the people and understands their needs and concerns. He appreciates that it is the hardworking reg ular people – those who are bearing the brunt of Mr. Bloomberg’s tax-and-fine fest – who are the backbone of this city.

Now that Mr. Ognibene has thrown down the gauntlet, all true Republicans, Conservatives, and conservative Democrats will rally behind the “Big Fella.” If the endeavor succeeds with Mayor Ognibene in City Hall, then let it be recorded that the first shots of the Ognibene Revolution were fired in Rockaway.

PATRICK HURLEY
PresidentRegular Republican Club
Woodside, N.Y.

Invading Iran Unwise

It amazes me beyond belief that your staff would encourage a war between Iran and America and call it “Good News” [“Good News on Iran,” Editorial, January 18, 2005]. War is a failure of all other options. There is nothing “good” about war.

Its been estimated the war in Iraq killed 3,500 to 7,000 innocent civilians during the invasion. These people had never attacked an American interest or citizen, and they had done nothing to deserve being murdered in the name of democracy and liberation.

Iran is not going to be the cakewalk the Iraq invasion was. Iran hasn’t been living under the stringent sanctions like those imposed on Iraq for 12 years.

It’s also appalling to see you not wanting to hold this president accountable for invading a foreign country with military force “reconnaissance missions inside Iran,” an act of war, by the way, when Congress has passed no resolution authorizing the use of military force against Iran. If these reconnaissance missions were true, Iran would be completely justified in declaring war against America and launching a nuclear strike.

CHARLES REEVES
Davie, FL

---

Please address letters intended for publication to the Editor of The New York Sun. Letters may be sent by e-mail to editor@nysun.com, facsimile to 212-608-7348, or post to 105 Chambers Street, New York City 10007. Please include a return address and daytime telephone number. Letters may be edited.