William G. Horter – 4/1/09

This page was last updated on April 13, 2009.

U.S. must change Afghanistan policy; William G. Horter; Beaver County Times; April 1, 2009.

When Mr. Horter isn’t bashing Republicans in general, and former President Bush specifically, he tries to push a taxpayer-funded, government-run healthcare system (some examples are here, here, and here) on U.S. citizens. As time has progressed, Mr. Horter has increasingly resorted to name-calling and personal attacks, especially in his comments on the Times website. Since I don’t know Mr. Horter, I don’t know if he actually believes all the stuff he writes or if he just likes to stir things up. If I were the type to run a disinformation campaign, I’d invent someone like Mr. Horter. After all, the image Mr. Horter projects is a caricature of the stereotypical lefty. I have to believe a large number of lefties cringe whenever they read a comment or letter from Mr. Horter. I know I cringe whenever I read a Horter-quality comment from an alleged righty. Then again, perhaps I’ve overestimating lefties. <g>

Mr. Horter used to be one of our local Republican impersonators (The group also includes Messrs. William A. Alexander, Arthur Brown, Edward “Fellow Republicans” Hum, and George Reese.) who write claiming to be disgruntled Republicans. In June 2008 Mr. Horter wrote, “So after 50 years of being a Republican, I have changed my party. I am now a Democrat.”

History also shows you need to do your own due diligence regarding the “facts” Mr. Horter presents in his letters and the comments he posts on the Times website. Here’s just one example.

Along with other letter writers I’ve mentioned, I wish Mr. Horter could get a regular column in the Times.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“The ground in Afghanistan is soaked with the blood of many who sought war there.

“And the old story prevails — ‘those who forget history are bound to repeat it.’”

[RWC] If you’re familiar with Mr. Horter’s body of work, you know he has a selective memory of history. You’ll see what I mean below.

“The terrorist problem is not in Afghanistan or Iraq or Pakistan. It is in Palestine. Until those brothers of the Muslim population are given justice, nothing else will work. Stop the settlements and give their land back. That is the real path to peace in that region.”

[RWC] Here’s the first example of selective memory in this letter. Israel has been returning land to the so-called Palestinians and all it has gotten is more rocket attacks closer to Israel’s population centers.

While we’re on land for peace, what about the Americas? Should all non-indigenous peoples currently living in the Americas return their land to the indigenous peoples and return to Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe?

Finally, if Mr. Horter really believes Islamic terrorism has anything to do with the Palestine region, I believe he’s very naïve. This, like the bogus poverty claim we often hear, is just another attempt to blame Islamic terrorism on us.

“You want their oil? Get it the old fashioned way, buy it.”

[RWC] Oil? To the best of my knowledge, there’s no significant oil or gas in either Israel/Palestine or Afghanistan.

“Since his inauguration, President Barack Obama has twice increased troop levels in Afghanistan. I’m afraid I see this as pure folly. As we know, no Afghans were on those planes on Sept. 11, 2001. Most of those were Saudis.”

[RWC] So the fact the Taliban Afghan government hosted and protected al-Qaida is irrelevant? Yet another piece of history Mr. Horter apparently forgot.

“But why is there an al-Qaida anyway? Has anyone ever wondered? And if we kill Osama bin Laden, does anyone seriously think al-Qaida will fold up and go away?”

[RWC] Notice Mr. Horter asked, “why is there an al-Qaida anyway?,” but didn’t tell us his opinion. I can pretty much guess the answer, but that would not be fair to Mr. Horter.

As for “And if we kill Osama bin Laden, does anyone seriously think al-Qaida will fold up and go away?,” of course not. Is Mr. Horter implying that means we should not pursue either bin Laden or al-Qaida and simply wait for the next attack?

“The Russians are the most recent victims of war making in this area, and they had a million troops there.”

[RWC] Here’s another example of Mr. Horter’s selective memory. The USSR was trying to conquer Afghanistan for subjugation. Does Mr. Horter believe that’s why we’re there?

“It’s time to rethink this whole situation and bring our troops back home. We must not forget this history.”

[RWC] According to my records, this is the first letter (out of more than 20 since 2004) from Mr. Horter regarding Afghanistan.