Joe Sucha got it right ["President has Benghazi blood on his hands," Nov. 13]. If the debacle at Benghazi isn't treason, it is pretty close. Where is the follow-up news on this disgrace?

It seems there is a frantic effort by the administration to whip up the best smokescreen possible over the Petraeus affair to divert attention from this egregious sacrifice of the brave men who fought to the death in service to this country.

I fought in World War II and Korea, surviving the battle of Chosin Reservoir, and I know the desperation of fighting against overwhelming odds to hold on at all costs. If there is any conceivable reason for abandoning those men, I want to know what it is. Help was on the way but recalled. The men who ordered this request for help are now being punished by the country they served.

Why? If this is not reason for impeachment of this incompetent president, then what is? The people of this country want and deserve answers to this disgraceful catastrophe. Will we get it, or will it be hidden by smokescreens and diversions until it is forgotten?

Bob Hayden

Mineral

Heroes 'cut' to death?

The events in Benghazi continue to be kicked around for political gain. Mary Walsh's piece in Viewpoints ["Will Benghazi be Watergate 2013?"] has irked me to respond, perhaps because I find it obscene to use the tragedy of fallen men for a political agenda.

Security in Benghazi was not what it was supposed to be, mostly because lawmakers underfunded it, citing deficits that apparently did not matter under another administration. It has since become trendy to suggest the president failed the men who were killed.

I would suggest that we as a nation failed them. Those who use the national debt for political gain, after having voted for tax cuts, wars, and, yes, deficits, are not among those we send into harm's way. At the sharp end of the stick, American power is sometimes more of concept than reality, yet people are on duty there to protect American interests. The State Department's request for security funding was rejected and, in the end, men died.

As congressional hearings begin, those who seek to assign blame should perhaps take a quick look in the mirror.

Erik Nelson

Fredericksburg

Here's the outrage