http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20080714_High-mindedness_didn_t_s...

To the editor:

Surely Charles Krauthammer must know (Commentary, 7/14) that the
Columbian hostages were freed as the result of a deception. The
guerillas were under the impression that they were to receive a ransom
for the hostages, which was arranged through diplomacy -- not by hard
power, as Krauthammer contends. Yes, of course power was applied to
retrieve the hostages without the paying of a ransom; but the hostages
would never have been located without the diplomacy and intelligence
deception that established where the hostages would be located.

Krauthammer is like an autistic child beating his head repeatedly
against the wall because he likes the rhythm and order that it gives to
the world. Krauthammer cannot make sense of a world where raw power
cannot be applied to achieve any good sounding ends. He would bankrupt
our country in order to save it. He would bankrupt our morality in order
to save it. He would bankrupt our children in order to save them. If he
has not already bankrupted his own neo-conservative philosophy, he has
certainly bankrupted everyone else.

Ben Burrows
406 Shoemaker Road
Elkins Park, PA 19027
215-266-2029