In April, Kevin Baker wrote in the “In the News” column of his dismay at the current attempt by Congress to restore the ranks of Rear Adm. Husband E. Kimmel and Maj. Gen. Walter C. Short, the Navy and Army commanders in charge at Pearl Harbor during the raid. Rear Adm. David C. Richardson wrote in disagreement, and the editors thought his protest worth publishing in its entirety, since it is a succinct yet thorough statement of the position of those who believe that Kimmel and Short were, in effect, set up. We also asked Kevin Baker to respond.