Letter: Cheney displays insensitivity

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Friday, Sept. 10, 2004 | 5:22 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

September 11 - 12, 2004

Vice President Dick Cheney has once again tried to discredit John Kerry. Taking Kerry's words out of context, Cheney accused him of being unfit to lead this nation in the war on terrorism. "He talks about leading a more sensitive war on terror, as though al-Qaida will be impressed with our softer side," Cheney said.

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines "sensitive" as (1) "capable of perceiving with a sense or senses; (2) responsive to external conditions or stimulation; and (3) susceptible to the attitudes, feelings or circumstances of others." To me, those would seem like excellent qualities in a leader of the world's greatest democracy. In context, Kerry's words were in support of being responsive to former allies' concerns about the war in Iraq, not about being soft on terrorism.

Cheney has made a revealing confession. The American people can only conclude from his remarks that he prides himself and the president on being "insensitive." And not simply in regard to terrorists. They are insensitive as well toward Americans who disagree with their policies, and on former allies who differed with them about the necessity of war in Iraq.

BRUCE V. TALBERT