The Iraq War

The media surveys indicate that most of the American public support President Bush in going to war against Iraq. The public was never told that it would cost every family $1,000 for this war!

The Bush administration is expected next week to submit the FIRST installment of the bill for war with Iraq -- a tab of between $70-75 billion that would cover one month of fighting and several months of occupation. (When have we ever brought our troops back??)

Would the public have supported this war if they realized the cost to them?

Rudolf Rutishauser

I am so sad and feel so depressed that the country I love is now the beginning World War III and there is no way to stop it.

Barbara Durham

Please stop being so negative in your war coverage. Your articles feature all the negative parts of the effort, and only passing reference to the tremendous gains being made. Our efforts to avoid civilian casualties, our doctors treatment of combatants from both sides, our efforts to bring humanitarian aid, the tremendous advance of our military towards Bagdad, and the amount of support that most Americans give to the president should all be highlighted.

Bill Flanders

But in the process, Bush has made billions of people mad at him. Like battling the Sorcerer's Apprentice, smashing one danger may only create tens, hundreds, thousands, millions more angry Muslims and Arabs. The most important resource terrorists have is anger, and anger can only be created by their enemy. Without anger, terrorists do nothing.

If Bush is truthful that his aim is to avoid future terrorism, he must stop when he has won and completely turn over Iraq to the UN or other neutral body to aid them to become a democracy. Bush should support Iraq's recovery with money only, not troops or administration.

Once the world sees that Bush was honest, that he leaves Iraq after achieving his stated goal, only then the world will grudgingly think that the U.S. did the best thing and begin to believe again in U.S. morality.

But if the U.S. stays in Iraq and takes all the contracts for U.S. companies, then the world will realise that Bush's ideal is not democracy, but oil.

Tom Trottier

Iraq people have seen how the American bombs destroyed their homes, their schools, their markets. How the American bombs have left them without water and food. How the American bombs kill their children, brothers/sisters, parents.

Do not think that Iraq people are going to forget this. Do not think that the Arabic world is going to forget this. Do not think that the world is going to forget this.

Do not fool yourselves.

The ones who massacre the people do not free them.

Xuan Alvarez (Spain)

Neil Wollman

Over the last few weeks, tens of thousands of Americans have been coming out to support our President and our troops at a series of "Rallies for America," held across the country from Washington D.C. to California.

Where has the media been? There's plenty of coverage of the Socialist-led anti-war demonstrations, complete with their vanguard of radical left-wing Hollywood "actors". But where is the coverage of these rallies of grassroots support? The silence coming from the major news media has been deafening.

There are literally dozens of upcoming "Rallies for America" all over the country, sponsored by conservative organizations nationwide. I'm writing to INSIST that you fulfill your journalistic obligations, by actually covering these upcoming rallies (locations can be found at freeper.org).

You have a DUTY to report on these grassroots outpourings of support for our country. Please, be sure to cover the nationwide "Rallies for America". Thank you.

(Over 400 submissions to date)

Although we never (knowingly) reprint bulk-mailed letters, we received an overwhelming number of identical copies of this last submission. This was the heaviest bulk-mailing we have received since the weeks before the last two national elections. What groups are behind these efforts to manufacture consent? While these "grassroots" messages almost always echo topics that are currently being promoted on conservative radio and TV, the sponsor is rarely disclosed. But in the case of the message above, NY Times columnist Paul Krugman and others have revealed that these "Rallies for America" are being organized by Clear Channel Communications, the Texas media giant that owns 1,200 radio stations. A generous contributor to the Republican party, top management of Clear Channel also has a personal relationship with President Bush.

-- Editor

Postwar Iraq Profiteering Begins

The purpose of Operation Free Iraq is to restore self-determination to the people of Iraq, right?

Wrong, says Congressman Darryl Issa (R-California). The purpose is to substitute one dictator (Saddam Hussein) for another (U.S. Congress).

While the blood of America's youth is being spilled halfway around the world, Congressman Issa has introduced legislation (H.R. 1441) that dictates use of CDMA cell phone technology, owned by San Diego's Qualcomm Inc., as the standard for Iraq's postwar reconstruction.

Is this not raw imperialism -- the policy of seeking to extend the power, domination or territories of a nation? This should not be America's decision but Iraq's. Its oil revenue will pay for the technology.

Is it surprising that the world views the U.S. as an unscrupulous investor, imposing his will for a profit?

Randy Horton

School Lunches Unhealthy, Study Finds

Thank goodness the schools are providing the dietary fat intake. Children in American homes that are actually following the USDA guidelines are hurting for fat, and getting too much of their calories in carbohydrates. Every day, we learn more and more that we need to get most of our calaries in fat, followed by protein, then followed by carbohydrates, for good long-term health. More and more evidence is available telling us that a ketogenic (the energy molecule that the body produces when fat is the predominant form of calories) diet is healthier than the USDA guideline recommendations for a diet based on grain (carbohydrates). This obsession with fat free and low sodium foods is silly in the extreme for adults, and potentially devastating to children. Reliance on carbohydrates, sugar and starches easily converted to sugars, causes diabetes and obesity. Our children today do not get enough fat at home. So, Hurray for school lunches! Far from being alarmed by the story in the Monitor, I am heartened.

Kay Brown

Bush vs. Affirmative Action

When does the Bush administration not represent the interests of Corporate America? I believe this question will be answered clearly on April 1, when the Bush administration argues before the Supreme Court that the University of Michigan's affirmative action programs should be struck down.

Defending the University's programs will be at least 65 members of the Fortune 500, among them General Motors, Shell Oil, Coca-Cola and Hewlett-Packard. These companies, countless educators, and citizens like me recognize the benefits of a diverse learning environment and understand that affirmative action programs achieve diversity fairly and effectively without -- contrary to right-wing claims -- quotas, set-asides or racial preferences.

I think that equal opportunity for all is not merely an ideal but a goal that must be pursued through affirmative action and consistent enforcement of our civil rights laws. President Bush appears to believe that it's just a phrase, one that can be dispensed with whenever his right-wing base comes calling.

Marchion Orr

Earth First! Just Doesn't Understand

Because of this Earth First crap, many people (loggers) ended up out of work. Don't you live in a house? Or write on paper or use a wood pencil, or have a fence that protects you from intruders? Just in case you didn't realize the logging companies have to go back in when the cutting season is over and replant, and by law they are not allowed to cut down any trees that have been there for millions of years or where the spotted owl lives.

Kelly O'Hara

The Making of a Pigeon Activist

I looked up the pigeon shoot because I thought that would be one that might have actually changed for the sake of the state's image. I can't believe this crap is still going on after all these years!

I've been rehabing wildlife for 10 years. I see lots of bad things. But I am truely thankful that I've never bared witness to what you have (public killing of 5000 animals for fun). After all this time, I still can't comprehend the pleasure people gain from killing the innocent, and how common it is. I never will.

"WereCoon"

Paths of Glory

Reading Howard Zinn's piece in the March issue of The Progressive set me to thinking about Lonnie Franks, a quiet, conscientious, unassuming young enlisted man I served with in Thailand 32 years ago. Lonnie was an intelligence technician whose specialty was debriefing aircrews and reporting on the missions they had flown. He went on to serve in Vietnam, and while he was there he had occasion to do the right thing in a way that killed his military career but should have made his name known to every schoolchild. He discovered that his superiors were falsifying reports in order to excuse the bombing of North Vietnam, and when the chain of command was unresponsive to his complaints, he wrote to Senator Harold Hughes. The ensuing uproar led to the demotion and forced retirement of General John D. Lavelle, and it at least interrupted the bombing.

Lonnie Franks is a great American. Let's hope that among the men and women currently serving in our armed forces there will be some who will have the courage to follow his splendid example.

Charles Felsenthal

Economic Stimulation

President Bush's proposed tax cuts for millionaires becomes even harder to understand when I look at how my tax dollars are spent. Last year I spent 22 cents of every tax dollar on interest payments on the federal debt, according to the National Priorities Project. The only thing that topped that was the military, which took 26 cents, and that's BEFORE the hundred billion dollar war in Iraq.

Now Bush's tax cuts, which will cost close to $2 trillion over the next decade, will boost our debt to $7 trillion ($1.9 million A DAY) over that same period. And for what? 47 percent of us in Humboldt County will get a big ZERO for all these tax cuts. Meanwhile, the top 1 percent will bring home $35,940.

While we get nothing in tax relief, we'll also get less in services: Last year, less than 3 cents went towards education and less than 1 cent paid for job training. More tax cuts mean even less money for the basics and more money for those who don't even need it. One thing is certain: George Bush's version of "economic stimulus" takes exclusive care of the millionaires who will get an average of $90,000 per year in tax breaks. He leaves the rest of us -- and our country -- behind.

Mike Parent

Afghan Women Speak from Behind the Media Veil

A school for girls in Kandahar, Afghanistan, was recently hit by an explosion that injured one teacher. This bombing marks the eighth in a series of known attacks against schools for girls in Afghanistan including two schools in the northern provinces that were burned to the ground and three in the southeastern province of Zabul. Handwritten pamphlets were distributed in Kandahar, the former Taliban stronghold, in April warning of violence to come if women took jobs or attended school.

Threats to Loya Jirga delegates who have spoken out for human rights, including Minister of Women's Affairs Dr. Sima Samar; the assassination of two government ministers; violence against women in the Northern provinces; and the continued use of tactics of intimidation against the return of girls to school show the need for expansion of peace keeping forces both within and beyond Kabul.

Women in Afghanistan are also suffering catastrophic maternal death rates, according to the most recent comprehensive survey of the country's state of health, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Management Sciences for Health. Medical experts believe that Afghanistan may now be experiencing one of the worst maternal mortality rates in the world, according to the New York Times. The current estimate is 1,700 maternal deaths per 100,000 births, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), second only to Sierra Leone.

Complications from pregnancy or childbirth were associated with about half of all deaths of women of reproductive age from 1998 to 2002. Lack of education, electricity, and access to clean water, sanitation, and medical care compound the situation for Afghanistan's women. The vast majority of Afghan women give birth with no medical assistance and receive no prenatal care, both because of lingering effects from the Taliban's oppressive regime and the sheer poverty of many women in the country, particularly those in rural villages.

The women of Afghanistan must not be forgotten. These women deserve safe schools adequate shelter, clean water, and accessible healthcare.

Heather Schreck

The Presidential Ack-Sent

I'm sure this is the wrong place to go with this, but a coworker and I need to settle a disagreement. I'm amazed that we've elected a president who says "nucular." My co-worker claims that's a "midwest accent." She cites the fact that I'm a Nevada native to explain my ignorance. So, according to her, he's saying the word "nuclear" correctly when he says "nucular." I say it's common nationwide, but entirely incorrect. Verdict?

Yvonne Reynolds

Quite a bit has been written on Bush's "nucular" pronunciation (a good essay appeared on NPR's Fresh Air). It's an issue that drives some people nuts, similar to the argument of whether the year 2000 or 2001 really marked the start of the millenium.

But it's really a "potaTOE / poTAHto" non-issue. "Nucular" has been an alternative pronunciation in Webster's dictionary since 1961, which also notes that even Canadians and British sometimes say it this way.

A more interesting question about Bush is asking why he lost his faux-Bubba twang in the last minute of his 2003 State of the Union address, and began speaking like the proper, Connecticut upper-class WASP that he really is.

-- Editor