Editor:

In last week’s editorial, Martin misrepresented the “reality of America’s military enfeeblement under the Biden administration” and once again chain-rattled about somebody else’s sex life.

Martin concluded that “the Biden administration will cut assistance to Ukraine, and possibly to Israel.” In fact, last week the Biden administration proposed 105 billion dollars in support of Ukraine, Taiwan, and Israel, and earmarked 20 billion for border security.

But Senate and House Republicans refused because the bill didn’t include tightening immigration laws. Republicans have rejected 8 Democratic bills on immigration since 2000 and have not offered their own bill since the far-right conservatives in the Republican House rejected even considering the bipartisan “Gang of Eight” immigration bill 10 years ago. Republicans are playing a lethal game and holding support for our allies hostage to do it.

Martin chose not to cite Senator Tommy Tuberville’s (R-LA) ten-months-long hold up of promotions which affected military readiness. He refused a phone call from four-star general and Secretary of Defense Austin on the subject. The Republicans finally got the votes needed to join Democrats in overwhelming his objections to 425 promotions, though he wouldn’t budge on 11 generals. Which Party is “enfeebling the military”?

The thought of “a normal, healthy, God-fearing young man” following a woman officer into combat has Martin’s knickers in a knot again. No matter that history is full of women warriors and brave and competent gay or bi-sexual military or civil leaders. I’ve listed many of them before only to discover that reason or proof against visceral reactions are futile.

The “soldiers forced to wear high heels,” to “walk in her shoes,” was a voluntary choice of a sensitivity exercise at Temple University and Arizona State designed to raise awareness of the significant issue of sexual assault in the military. I hope that Martin has no opposition to that objective.

Another subject: Rep. James Comer has subpoenaed Hunter Biden to testify behind closed doors to the Judiciary subcommittee. Hunter has agreed to testify but only if the hearing is public. Comer is clearly not interested in transparency. Hunter is willing to let unpleasant facts be raised publicly, but the circus that is the Republican House wants to protect itself from possible censure for overplaying its hand, again.

Keep in mind that Republican Judiciary Committee chair, Gym Jordan, known to have been central to the 2021 insurrection, himself refused to testify under subpoena to the January 6 Committee behind closed doors or publicly. Hapless phonies, but you have to give them points for consistency.

Kelly Scoles