The Love of Beer
Aaron, Pulitzer and CityBeat
Regarding “(One) war is over” [“Editorial,” Dec. 21]: I took a personal interest in the Iraq War, having traveled to both Europe and Africa in order to interview regular citizens and politicians for my web-based column. As with my hero Hank Aaron, congratulations on touching all four. This was a great read and would make Joseph Pulitzer proud.
Daniel J. Smiechowski, Clairemont
Bush’s war
Your Dec. 21 editorial, “(One) war is over,” is a great overview of the selective war in Iraq. You really told it like it was. I would add one point: President Bush ignored the United Nations’ in-country inspectors’ reports that no weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq. Bush asked the United Nations to remove the inspectors since he wanted to start bombing in Iraq.
I understand very well the condition of many of the servicemembers with post-traumatic stress disorder. During my tour in Vietnam in 1968, my attitude about life tended to be secondary. Mission was first, and use life to accomplish that mission if necessary.
If a war is really necessary for the security of our country or a United Nations declared emergency, people who don’t volunteer for military service should be willing to support the war financially.
Orrie Taylor, Oceanside
Feeling a draft
Thank you for reminding everyone about George Bush’s war in Iraq, where nearly 4,500 Americans died and more than 32,000 were wounded [“Editorial,” Dec. 21].
It’s now obvious that Bush and Cheney lied to other politicians and to the American public. They were stupid, deceitful and greedy in regard to advocating this war. Cheney’s company, Haliburton, made a lot of money, while Ray Hunt of Hunt Oil, a good friend of Bush, made deals with the Kurds for oil.
While it’s critical to remember the past, we must now look to the future. How can the United States limit these types of horrible decisions in the future? I don’t believe the war in Iraq would have happened if there had been a chance of the Bush children or the the Cheney children going to war.
I believe the answer is to invoke the draft whenever a war or major military action is initiated. At least one third of the combatants should be drafted from the public at large, which should also include members of Congress. When politicians vote to start a war, they should be willing to put themselves, their family members and the people who vote for them in harm’s way. That will help them to do a better job of gathering and analyzing the facts before starting a meaningless war in the future.
Ronald Harris, Scripps Ranch
The 0 percent
Regarding your Dec. 28 editorial, “End the occupation”: What did the Occupy movement accomplish? Zero percent. The only thing they could agree on is being anticapitalist. I hate to break it to you, but most people do not want socialism.
These people wouldn’t be able agree on what to make for breakfast with their goofy little fingers up, fingers down. They couldn’t even come to an agreement to stop drumming long enough to hear speakers. That would require a leader making decisions, which they are all against.
As for being against the bailouts, they are four years too late. I guess they took three-and-a-half years to decide on the occupation. Of course, they are all for bailouts when it’s their student loan.
Free speech doesn’t come with a right to erect a tent city on public property.
Todd Gilbert, North Park
