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Adding a name to a face of the war

Re: The war's human side, March 19.

While walking past a newspaper vending machine last Sunday morning, I saw a picture I have seen many times before, that of a Marine driving a shot-up Humvee. The caption said, "An unidentified U.S. soldier looks out the windshield after an ambush by insurgents in Iraq in April 2004."

Let me identify this brave Marine for the record. He is Marine Pfc. Eric Ayon. He served with the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, out of Camp Pendleton, Calif. He was killed on April 9, 2004, in Ramadi by an IED (improvised explosive device), three days after that picture was taken. Photographer David Swanson of the Philadelphia Inquirer, who was traveling with Echo Company, took the picture of Ayon. During Echo Company's deployment in Iraq, it lost 23 of its 185 men, more than any other Marine or Army company. It had more than 40 wounded. My son, Lance Cpl. Erik Ruiz serves with Echo Company.

We should keep faith with the president on the Iraq war

After years of listening to President Bush's argument concerning Iraq, it remains amazing to me that many in this country either don't get it or have lost faith in the mission. Although much of the animosity toward the president's policy is just political, much of the left's position not only sends a conflicted message to the troops, it also gives comfort to an enemy that has not, and cannot, defeat us on the battlefield.

The plethora of editorials and opinion pieces that appear in the Times and other major news outlets is part of the problem, not an answer. Not one of them offers a solution. Just a same old liberal litany of defeatism bereft of fact and backbone.

Many liberals are still confused about where their loyalty to the troops begins and ends. As usual, they mouth the right words about "supporting the troops" but then turn around and condemn everything that the troops are fighting dying for. The left claims to believe that the world is better off without Saddam Hussein in power, but then claims it was an illegal war that brought him down. The left claims to be for the rights of minorities and women, but then refuses to recognize the liberation of millions of Afghani and Iraqi women that have been oppressed and murdered for years. Now they have the right to determine their own futures. The liberal movement has managed to confuse the murder of innocent Iraqis by murderous thugs with our mission to liberate them.

America is not the problem in Iraq. The left doesn't want you to consider these facts because it blurs their concocted vision of the situation. I urge your readers to talk to military personnel returning from the war zone and get the real facts. They will tell you what the media leave out. The president has it right. It's up to us to keep the faith and be patient. Not only is the world a safer place without Saddam, but millions now have a chance to achieve freedom. Call me corny, but failure should not be an option.

We need more truth about Iraq

Contemplating President Bush's speech, on Monday, regarding the progress he perceives being made in Iraq, I must say that I do believe the media have a great deal to do with our bewildered view of the war in Iraq. However, Bush confuses us, too.

Between big-selling media stories of Iraqi violence and bloodshed and Bush's never-ending same ol', same ol' speeches about Iraq as seen through his rose-colored glasses, to say nothing about watered-down "truths" that the Pentagon allows out, the American public's view is so confused because the balance of truths is so greatly tilted.

We need more feedback from the Iraqi people and from our troops in Iraq. We need to hear their voices more through our media. We need both sides told and we need less of those tiring "recorded announcements" that Bush calls speeches, so that he can, as he inadvertently stated in a speech last year, "spread the propaganda" or at least draw the American public to his side.

How can the American people be in support of any cause that creates so much confusion and contradiction? We need more truth so that we can know where we stand, but that doesn't seem to be forthcoming. It's frustrating at best.

Bin Laden's plan is on track

As we go into our fourth year of war in Iraq, it's instructive to know that everything is going according to plan. Whose plan? Osama bin Laden's. Remember him? He was the one who planned, financed and trained the terrorists who attacked us on Sept. 11, 2001.

His larger plan was revealed more than a year ago during one of his worldwide broadcasts (Nov. 1, 2004). In it, he stated that his plan was to bankrupt the United States through the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to bin Laden, his mujahedeen opposition forces did the same thing to Russia during its 10-year Afghanistan occupation in the '80s. Ultimately, that conflict bankrupted Russia, and it was forced to withdraw in defeat.

Why is bin Laden still alive? I thought that he was the target. But he's still out there now using his rope-a-dope scheme, bleeding us literally in terms of our soldiers as well as financially by $6-billion per month in costs that we have to borrow. Our country is now weaker and more maligned than ever.

President Bush defends this Iraq adventure by saying the world is safer with Saddam Hussein out of power. I believe the same could be said about Bush.

Iraq "progress' keeps on spinning

In Vietnam, no matter how dark the situation, there was always "the light at the end of the tunnel." In Iraq, that has been replaced with "We are making progress."

With some 2,300 dead and 17,000 wounded, the Iraq score is not yet up to Vietnam standards, but "we are making progress."

The U.S. Constitution has not yet been abolished in the name of "national security," but "we are making progress."

The constitutional "commander in chief" of the armed forces is working hard to recast himself as the commander in chief of the whole nation - not yet commander in chief of the world, but "we are making progress."

Had the Bush administration been in Vietnam, as the helicopter lifted off the roof, I am sure we would have heard, "We are making progress."

Looking them in the eye

Re: In turns serious and humorous, Bush makes his case on Iraq, March 23.

On Wednesday, President Bush told a group of people in Wheeling, W.Va., "I cannot look mothers and dads in the eye. I can't ask ask this good Marine to go into harm's way if I didn't believe, one, we're going to succeed, and two, it's necessary for the security of the United States."

Do you suppose this is why he won't meet with Cindy Sheehan?

How could this have happened?

Re: Bush's legacy.

As a young student, I loved history and was especially curious about how self-serving and uncaring leaders had come to power. The results of their leadership almost always proved disastrous, and I was puzzled how a seemingly educated society could not have foreseen the obvious outcome.

I can picture young students in the future looking at the United States during the Bush years and wondering the same thing. They will ask the same question: "How could a seemingly educated country like the United States have elected George W. Bush - not once, but twice!"

Puzzling over priorities

Listening to President Bush's speech on Monday I heard that we are making great progress in rebuilding a city in Iraq including schools, homes and businesses. Why is it we can accomplish this in Iraq, but have areas in southwest Florida that since 2004 still don't have their property cleared and have people still in temporary housing? Also, the situation in Louisiana and Mississippi is still critical.

Who is more important? Our own countrymen and families or the people in Iraq? Of course, we do have to remember, the situation in the United States was caused by a natural disaster while the condition in Iraq was manufactured by the United States. Hmmm! This is a tough one to figure out.

This is no way to fight a war

Re: Army dog handler guilty of abuse at Abu Ghraib prison, March 22.

Yes, what Sgt. Michael J. Smith and a few others did was silly, childish and useless, as the prisoners "only know dead." However, it was not cruel nor should it be a cause for any reprimand, only for his retraining.

While this article was on Page 3A, deeper in the paper was a story about the same prisoners' comrades storming another prison, killing 20 police officers, burning the prison and freeing 33 prisoners, including 13 who were taken in a recent battle by U.S. and Iraqi soldiers (100 storm jail in Iraq and free all inmates).

As a war veteran, I am disgusted with the "hands-tied" way the war in Iraq is being fought, the reporting of the war and the misunderstanding of what war is like by the general public.

Soldiers' punishment is unbelievable

Re: Army dog handler gets 6 months in prison for Abu Ghraib abuse, March 23.

Sentencing our soldiers to jail time, for treatment of Iraqi prisoners! What a joke! One of our soldiers received a 6-month sentence, for "scaring" a prisoner with a dog. You have got to be kidding me! Another soldier got three years for standing in front of naked prisoners, giving the thumbs up sign? Gee, how inhumane!

The Times did not say what the corporal did to receive a 10-year sentence. I am guessing it was something severe, like taking away the prisoners' cable TV. The only people that should be going to prison are the prosecutors, for wanting even more time given to these guys. Have these prosecutors not seen the pictures of our civilians having their heads cut off? Unbelievable!

Don't go soft on terrorism

Re: Muslim violence is underreported, March 22.

I agree wholeheartedly with John Leo on the media's poor reporting of Muslim violence in the world. I believe the lack of this is weakening America and is due to liberalism in so much of the media outlets today. The media have let their hatred of George Bush color their reporting of what is really happening on a global scale.

Americans must realize that terrorism is expanding at an accelerated rate and nobody is safe in their so-called "cocoons" here in this country. Terrorists dance in the streets and rejoice in the killing of their so called "enemies." Anti-Semitism abounds and there is very little consideration given to the people of Israel for defending themselves against such attacks.

Being a journalist used to stand for fair, honest and unbiased reporting. This is no longer the case. For the journalists that still stand for this type of reporting, I commend you and hold you in the highest regard. For the rest of you that call yourself journalists, you should be ashamed for using an identity that used to be associated with honor.

Criticism is your right. Use it with intelligence and facts. The terrorists want America weakened and defenseless. Don't aid them in this war.

It's about questioning authority

Re: No press corps pushover, March 21.

An old journalism proverb says:

"Show me a reporter with respect for authority and I'll show you a lousy reporter."

Voucher considerations

Re: Young lives disrupted by politics, March 23.

I got a kick out of George Will's column regarding Florida's Opportunity Scholarship Program. In the column, he profiles some families that are taking advantage of this program to attend private schools. The families mention "small classes and respect" as the two primary reasons they preferred the private schools.

The people of Florida have tried to address class size through a constitutional amendment, but the governor and Legislature refuse to act in good faith. As for respect, smaller class sizes will go a long way to bringing greater respect into the classroom.

For the record, I'm not against using public funds for private schools. In fact, I think voluntary privatization would help reduce class size in public schools, a win-win situation. My only request would be that all students using public funds be required to take the FCAT, and that private schools receive the same grading as public schools.

Use caution with drugs for kids

Re: Antipsychotic drug use soars for kids, March 17.

Before any guardians of children accept such a prescribed drug from a doctor, they should at least have the health care provider educate them on the latest adolescent neuroresearch findings on brain development and behavior. I have seen many children change their undesirable behavior just by changing from a sugar-laden diet to one of complex carbs combined with good protein sources.

Basic to such a discussion should be what constitutes a healthy diet and the importance of a constant glucose blood level; the possibility of allergies; how to assist the child in getting a necessary nine to 10 hours of sleep; an understanding of the biological reasons for "independence" outbursts; the necessity for regular physical exercise, which is not gained by video games or watching excessive amounts of TV; the importance of head protection and the avoidance of contact sports that have a high occurance of previously discounted "minor concussions."

I recommend that all parents, guardians and educators use their computers to search for the latest findings under "Adolescent Brain" and attempt at first to bring about behavioral changes without the need of drugs which may or may not bring about a desired outcome by covering up symptoms.

The value of veterinarians

Re: Horse sense and the law, March 20.

The article covered many aspects of this debate quite nicely. However, you fail to address some concerns:

1. With virus mutations and the real possibility of foreign diseases (such as the possibility of bird flu mutation) capable of severely affecting both humans and animals as well as the potential of the huge impact on the economy, a person trained in depth, such as the veterinarian or physician, is in the best position for early recognition and response to these threats. An animal showing early signs of rabies is not going to respond favorably to massage, aroma therapy, or soothing music and definitely constitutes a grave threat to everyone around it.

2. There are some real quacks preying on animal owners and their livestock or pets. Fortunately, some of the "remedies" offered are fads which run their course in fairly short time and cause little impact except to the victim's time and pocketbook. The animal heals despite "the cure," so no harm done. Unfortunately, there are some who think that since they can buy a needle and syringe and a bottle of penicillin at the feed store that that constitutes the equivalent of a degree in veterinary medicine.

I have, in my 39 years as a veterinarian, been called upon to stop life-threatening hemorrhages in horses following a botched castration, treat jaws broken as a result of "equine dentists" and perform autopsies on colic cases treated by "do it your-selfers."

Despite what is presented by the petitioners for alternative medicine, veterinarians are concerned and interested in the health and welfare of the animals and the satisfaction of their owners.

Is warming part of a cycle?

Re: Warmth threatens to raise sea levels, March 24.

The article about rising sea levels describes computer model predictions of a 1-3 feet rise in sea level by 2100 if the present rate of arctic temperature warming continues. However, at the end of the item, a statement printed in bold suggests that warming "could raise polar temperatures to levels last seen 130,000 years ago . . ."

Does that statement mean that most of the arctic warming trend predicted by the numerical models may, in fact, just be part of a natural cycle of climate change to which all present and future inhabitants of our planet will need to take proactive steps to accommodate?

[Last modified March 25, 2006, 02:45:04]