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© St. Petersburg Times, published December 7, 2001
Re: Pearl Harbor.
We must never be caught napping again. We must never lower our guard again. We must never let the civil libertarians and the pacifists control the government so effectively that the country cannot protect itself.
"Let's Not Forget" is the inscription on my 50th anniversary Pearl Harbor pin. As a witness of that tragic day, I have been incensed by the disparaging depiction of our military and security forces. They are dedicated men and women who make it possible for us to live the American dream. The oil still bubbles up from the depths of the Arizona Memorial, and the fires still burn in the depths of the World Trade Center.
Dec. 7, 1941, and Sept. 11, 2001 -- Let's Not Forget.
-- Julianne L. (Dilley) Moon, Palm Harbor
The Pledge of Allegiance says we are "one nation under God," and as a nation, we are at war. Sept. 11 was a "day of infamy." The theft of four airliners, the deliberate destruction of the World Trade Center, the attempted destruction of the Pentagon and the thwarted attempt to destroy the White House were nothing less than acts of war against the United States.
Our enemy is an army of terrorists whose agenda is the destruction of our way of life, and the president declared that the circumstances of this war require the use of military tribunals. To question the president's judgment on this issue does nothing but undermine the confidence of the people in his leadership. Our armed forces are fighting for our freedom and our national survival and, by God, they deserve our total confidence and support.
This war is not being fought to haul a few hundred fanatics into federal court and put them on trial for aircraft piracy, mass murder and property damage. The magnitude of these acts goes beyond the concept of crime. The use of military tribunals was dictated by the nature of our enemy. Terrorists are not soldiers. They wear no uniform. They are spies, saboteurs and suicide bombers. No matter how or when they came to this country, after Sept. 11, they became our enemy and, as such, no longer entitled to the equal protection of our laws and Constitution.
Most of us understand that the primary function of the military in wartime is to destroy our enemy's will to continue the war and to protect and defend our homeland. But another purpose of the military is to investigate and punish those who have committed atrocities, and to obtain sufficient intelligence to prevent future atrocities. In this type of war, military tribunals are not only legal -- they are necessary.
-- Greg Daniel, Esq., Clearwater
The president and the attorney general have the right idea. Mainly, take "any" action necessary to take the war to the terrorists, including military tribunals.
The danger lies in not doing enough. Furthermore, I feel responsible for the deaths of thousands during the Sept. 11 attack. We should have insisted that this present action be taken after Beirut, after the attacks on our foreign embassies, after the first attack on the World Trade Center, and on the USS Cole.
From President Clinton on down to the committees overseeing the many services like the FBI, CIA and the Secret Service, all "dropped the ball." Now it seems that there are those who are more concerned about the rights of people who want to kill us than doing all they can to prevent this from happening again. We know the argument about weakening our civil liberties. What good are liberties if you are dead?
We think some of our leaders lack the vision to protect this nation. We are afraid that they might wait until half the population has smallpox before they take proper action. Isn't that what happened on Sept. 11?
Individuals who are here, or enter illegally, or are accused of possible crimes should not have the same rights as citizens who love their country enough to send their children and grandchildren to war.
Finally, who ever heard that a government doesn't have the right to question its people? What person who "loves" his adopted country wouldn't be proud to serve it and be willing to do anything that contributes to its defense?
-- Leon Angelikoussis, Belleair
To Afghanistan with love:
So sorry, Afghans, it was not our intention to drive you from your homes or kill innocent people. Too bad so many have to suffer for the sins of a few, but that's war. We are at war, and bombing is the American way to deal with enemies. We could have tried to find the perpetrators through infiltration and raids, but we felt we needed to do some bombing first. To soften 'em up, you know, and save American lives. We know it's hell for you, but it has to be done.
We don't target cities, we only bomb soldiers, misguided young men. We could try to win them over, but it's easier just to kill 'em. We know, too, that some of our bombs go astray and we're sorry about that, truly sorry.
We're trying to liberate you from the Taliban. We know it wasn't you Afghans or the Taliban that bombed us. But Osama bin Laden is hiding somewhere there and that's reason enough for us. We know most of the hijackers were Saudis, but we can't bomb the Saudis, can we? We need them as friends, you know. And they've got oil.
But the Taliban? We'll kill as many of them as possible and get you a new government that'll be kind and just. We know the Northern Alliance killed a lot of innocent folk the last time they were in charge in Kabul. But this time they have to share power. It'll be different. Just wait and see.
Sorry to destroy your roads and bridges, your buildings and sources of electricity, but they can be rebuilt. We'll see to that. Guarantee it.
Just remember, Afghans, we love you, and we'll do right by you, even if we have to destroy Afghanistan in order to save it. That's war, you know.
-- Shirley Peterson, Sun City Center
The war against terrorism in Afghanistan appears to be ending. But after spending 11 of the past 30 years overseas, including two years in Lebanon with visits to Afghanistan and many Muslim countries, I remain pessimistic about our future.
While the recent deaths of Israeli noncombatants is tragic, my aim is to try to communicate to fellow Americans why we have become the targets of terrorism. Whenever we see TV news of Palestinian buildings being rocketed by Israeli helicopters, do we feel anguish as millions of Muslims do? When we see the homes of those who resist Israel expansion being bulldozed, do we see why America is a target and not Israel alone?
It is clear to me that Palestinian refugee camps and Israeli occupied towns are breeding thousands who see the unfairness of their lot and feel hatred toward Israel and those who support them -- almost exclusively this country. Is it fair for me to be taxed to support a foreign government that earns my country the hatred of millions?
To remove this country from being targeted by further Arab terrorism, America should acknowledge our efforts to be an "honest broker" in the Mideast have failed. We should turn over this role to the United Nations. Israel's supporters in this country should stop giving money to American politicians of both parties to buy U.S. aid to Israel. America should stop all economic and military aid to Israel as that country already has a relatively high standard of living. Finally, it is not in the American spirit to give aid to a country that occupies and oppresses another people.
-- Pat Hughes, St. Pete Beach
The recent suicide bombings and the Israeli retaliation are part of a series of revenge and counter-revenge. Israel, as usual, pointed a finger at Yasser Arafat and accused him of not doing enough to prevent such terrorist acts. The American government echoed that sentiment. Arafat, on the other side, is under extreme pressure from his people not to give in to the Israelis. The prevention of such suicide attacks won't be achieved by rounding up hundreds of extremists. If the roots of the Palestinian anger and frustration are not dealt with, there will arise other groups of "extremists" to continue the attacks.
The problem is not just a terrorist group or two. The problem is an entire nation frustrated from continuous brutal occupation: killing, maiming, destruction of homes and businesses, and deprivation of the most basic human rights. What adds to the Palestinian frustration is the bias of the American government. Not only in its official stand, but also in its help. Almost the entire Israeli arsenal is American made, plus Israel gets hefty financial help that makes it the biggest recipient of U.S. aid. The Palestinian people, on the other hand, are choked to death in every segment of life. The small amount of American financial aid goes through the Israeli government, which has been holding it for more than a year now. Palestinians who are suffering include Christians as well as Muslims. They reached a point where their cause became more valuable than life, or they felt they had nothing to loose. How else would you explain suicide bombing?
I honestly hope that all violence will stop, but I don't see that happening before the Palestinians are given their full rights in an independent state and a chance for good life. When that happens, I believe Arabs and Israelis can both benefit from security and prosperity.
-- Saleh A. Mubarak, Tampa
Re: Israeli rockets hit Arafat's compound, Dec. 5.
Are my eyes playing tricks on me? In this article, an aide to Yasser Arafat said, "If the Israelis continue to kill our children . . . there won't be any chance for peace . . ."
This comes at a time when Israel's young adults and children are being killed willy-nilly by Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad. That's what I call chutzpah! Did the aide think at all about the children those groups killed in the last two weeks?
Where is the uproar about the wanton murders by these terrorist organizations? Not that I advocate an eye for an eye, but let's face it: Does Israel turn the other cheek? I doubt it. The Palestinians must discover that curtailing the activities of their terrorists will bring peace, and until that happens there will be no peace.
So it's really up to the Palestinians to throw some of their fundamentalism to the four winds and create a reason for peace and good will in the Middle East. Let them not forget that Arafat was offered peace by former Prime Minister Ehud Barak and he refused it.
-- J.M. Stevens, Clearwater
Re: Israelis, Palestinians warm to Powell pledge, Nov. 20.
President Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell and other officials in our government, and most of the members of the United Nations, say that the presence of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza "cripples chances for real peace and security."
A million Arabs live in Israel! Why is it that a few thousand Jews cannot live in the West Bank and Gaza? I smell a double standard here!
-- David Neumann, Clearwater
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