The value of newspapers

 The value of a free (no government control or censorship) press is to individuals as it is to society as a whole. In August I shared a healthy exchange of views with another writer and the readers of the Letters to the Editor of The Post and Courier (Charleston, SC).

This letter started the exchange:

(Published August 3, 2018)

Trade War
  Farmers helped elect Donald Trump to be president, As president, Mr. Trump initiated a trade war that hurt farmers. Now, he is spending $12 billion taken from taxpayers to help the farmers.
  Exactly which drawer in the lunacy bin should this be filed under?

  Francis x. Archibald
  Central Haven Drive
  Mt. Pleasant, SC

Another reader/writer chimed in:

(Published August 7, 2018)

Making Deals

 In response to the article in the Aug. 3 paper titled "Trade war," how about filing it under the luxury bin next to the move by President Barack Obama to send two planeloads of cash to Iran for the release of one Army deserter.
  President Donald Trump, however, was able to get three men released from North Korea without spending a dime. Who was the smart one in these deals?

Perry Jones
Pimmit Place
Ladson

I countered with this:

(Published August 10, 2018)  

  The claim in the Aug. 7 letter to the editor, "Making Deals," that President Obama sent planeloads of cash to Iran for one Army deserter is inaccurate.

  CNN reported at the time (January 2016) that five men were released, including an American journalist in a prisoner swap. The money coincidentally sent to Iran was theirs and had been held by the United States since the Reagan administration.

  It was publicly announced in the United States and only became part of anti-Obama conspiracy theories six months later when Iranians started the rumor. This was covered by fact checker Snopes.com.

Francis X. Archibald

Central Haven Drive

Mount Pleasant

The 15 minute telephone call

   After 34 years it is a remarkable diplomatic opening for the presidents of Iran and the United States to have a 15 minute telephone conversation. Even more remarkable for the President of Iran, Mr. Hassan Rouhani, to say he wanted to talk to the President of the United States, and for Mr. Obama to quickly place the call. The road ahead for relations between the two countries is long and will have some potholes in it, but it can be successfully navigated for the benefit of all.

   Two things to watch out for: One, the inclination to think it is sanctions against Iran that alone are responsible for this breakthrough. Iran has survived for 34 years and to deny or ignore good will on the part of President Rouhani does a disservice to him and the people of Iran. Two, Israel and Iran are at loggerheads over realistic fears about nuclear weapons. The United States is not going to leave Israel’s side but we cannot let this chance to improve relations in the area evaporate because of Israeli intransigence.

   It is to be hoped the 15 minute telephone conversation on September 27, 2013, will come to be recognized as a milestone in improved relations. 

Comments to: arch@archibald99.com.

Click here for the full blog.