Submitted by John Drexel, Nov 16, 2006 19:42

John Batchelor, as ever, is cogent, subtle, and fiercely knowledgeable in his arguments in support of John McCain. I share Mr. Batchelor's recognition that the war against the Islamist jihadists (let's all call it what it really is, once and for all) is the central struggle of our time, and I do not doubt McCain's Mahanism. Nonetheless, I wait for Mr. Batchelor to address this crucial point: that, for various well-documented reasons to do with domestic policy and politics, a significant portion of the American conservative movement (including a number of prominent conservative movers and shakers as well as rank-and-file conservatives) regards Senator McCain with deep mistrust. McCain's Annapolis education and Vietnam service is all well and good--indeed, far more than well and good--but a considerable number of us have severe reservations as to whether the senator can be the full and true heir of Ronald Reagan. Until and unless the senator addresses those reservations, many conservatives will look elsewhere for a Republican presidential nominee.

That said, I very much appreciate Mr. Batchelor's history lesson--Alfred Mahan's contribution is central to an understanding of our place in the world today--and I look forward to his return from his radio hiatus.

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