‘Fit To Be Tied’

With regard to Mark Steyn’s column: Don’t worry about those Democrats [“Fit To Be Tied,” Opinion, December 19, 2005]. In another year, they’ll be telling everyone George W. Bush “deceived” them into thinking things were going so badly in Iraq and that they really wanted to stay the course all along.

WILLIAM TUCKER
Brooklyn

‘Bush “We Are Winning War”‘

Question: Why is it that we haven’t been attacked since September 11, 2001?

Think about it … it’s been four years [“Bush ‘We Are Winning the War in Iraq,’ ” Brian McGuire, Page 1, December 19, 2005]. It sure looks like President Bush’s war strategy – the best defense is a good offense – is very effective.

JANE KENNY
Jacksonville, Fla.

‘Strike Out’

Concerning your editorial “Strike Out” [December 15, 2005], it may interest you to know that Chicago Transit Authority trains all operate with the engineer doing double duty as conductors. Also, the entire subway system in Lyon, France, is operated entirely by computer.

ALAN SHUBACK
Manhattan

‘Frank Rich’s War’

Loved your editorial, “Frank Rich’s War,” [November 28, 2005], but may I point out you forgot about Dan Rather’s interview of Saddam Hussein on February 24, 2003? Saddam got up in the middle of the interview to go out and pray.

Don’t bother looking for this in the CBS transcript; it’s been edited out, but it was reported on by Mr. Rather at the time.

I do not remember Joseph Dzhugashvili [Stalin] ever telling Walter Duranty he could not meet him on a Sunday morning because he was popping back into the seminary.

Apparently the definition of an atheist is malleable to a Timesman.

MICHAEL J. HARKINS
Manhattan

‘Frank Gatski, 83’

To my scan, The New York Sun was the only paper to carry Frank Gatski’s obituary. Congratulations [“Frank Gatski, 83, Pro Bowl Center,” Knickerbocker, November 25, 2005].

Gatski, with Otto Graham behind him, Marion Motley still farther back, Dante Lavelli on the wing, and, later to come, Jim Brown – these were the pro football players I grew up watching. They probably had difficulties and problems in life, but they were heroes.

They showed up every day; they did the hard work; they received very modest pay, and they provided entertainment – your point in the obit. Gatski showed up every day for every game, and it’s something that few players today would do or even dream of – will they ever have people like this again?

ROBERT L. DILENSCHNEIDER
Manhattan
Mr. Dilenschneider is chairman and founder of The Dilenschneider Group.

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