Richard Kania’s most recent attacks on John Kerry (The Pilot, Feb. 25) reveal that he has nothing positive to say about Bush, but rather spends his time attempting to bash Kerry because of his wartime service in Vietnam.

He infers that Sen. Kerry did not earn the three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, and a Silver Star in a “controversial incident.” This is the most obvious attempt at deflection by the “mean machine” which I have observed in a while. For good measure, Mr. Kania attempted to disparage Sen. Max Cleland, who is a triple amputee as a result of combat service in Vietnam.

Meanwhile the Bush crowd is attempting so far unsuccessfully to extricate the president from the mounting evidence which indicates that because he was the product of a privileged family, influence was used to get him into the “champagne” unit of the Texas Air National Guard. There are stories that he was jumped over a 500-man waiting list. It appears that Mr. Kania may have had an overdose of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity.

William B. Crews Jr.

Southern Pines