Should we be surprised by situation in Iraq?
Face it: Bush blew it. After nearly 2,000 U.S. deaths and thousands of soldiers seriously maimed, not to mention more than 25,000 Iraqi civilian deaths, the war is as good as over and we’ve lost. Iraq is sliding into civil war and will eventually disintegrate into three separate ethnic enclaves. No one should be surprised. Iraq as we know it today is really just an arbitrary shape the British and French drew on a map in 1918 as they divided the spoils after defeating Germany and Turkey in the first World War. Iraq never was a country. It was a piece of geography kept intact by either a colonial power – the British – or a vicious dictator.
Brent Scowcroft, George H.W. Bush’s national security adviser, was correct back in 1991 when he advised the first Bush administration to leave Saddam Hussein in power. Scowcroft believed that a defeated secular dictator would be a buffer to radical Islam. He knew that if Hussein were overthrown, the resulting power vacuum would be filled by Islamic fundamentalists. Scowcroft was right. He predicted exactly what is happening today. George W. Bush has opened Pandora’s Box and the winged evil spirits are out.
Jeff Ewing, Erie
Media’s coverage of the war in Iraq
I believe the press has an obligation to explain both sides of an issue. The administration’s policy in Iraq and the opposition to it have been well documented. When will the press do the hard work of explaining the other side? What do those who oppose the Americans and their allies wish for the future of Iraq? Who are these people and why should the Iraqi people support them? Have they been honest in their dealing with the Iraqi people, and can they be trusted? Does their vision offer a better chance for a peaceful, stable and free Iraq? This is an either/or issue. Explain the other side. I’m waiting.
Roy Ellis, Castle Rock
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We have been bombarded with the stories of how the American people are becoming disillusioned with the war in Iraq. I wonder why. Could it be the constant harping by the American media on only the negative news out of Iraq?
Why won’t the American media report the positive stories? You know, how the military is doing the medical screenings on children in Mosul, about the water treatment projects, the refurbished schools, the Iraqi free press, the multitude of television stations, radio stations and newspapers that are in existence now, the increase in telephone subscribers, women holding high government positions, and on and on.
I remember the media in regard to Vietnam (I was there), broadcasting a resounding victory for us and a defeat for the other side as a defeat for the United States. Could the same be happening now? It seems our enemies have learned their lesson well: Just rely on the American media as their propaganda arm.
John Garrett, Parker
Weekend curfew for teenagers at Aurora Mall
Re: “Mall curfew an overreaction,” Aug. 31 editorial.
The Post writes: “We believe the curfew is the wrong course because it penalizes kids who behave as well as those who don’t. Also, it gives teens with working parents fewer options for wholesome activities. Indeed, as Bernard Celestin of the Aurora Human Relations Commission has noted, youths gravitate to the mall because of a dearth of outdoor space and recreation centers.”
So you believe that teenagers cruising the mall is a wholesome activity? When my now-grown children were that age (which is only a few years ago), they were not allowed to run wild and roam the malls. Although I can’t claim that I knew what my daughters were up to every minute of every day, I at least knew, for the most part, where they were and what they were doing. And we had “family nights,” where we watched movies, played games, ate dinner together, etc.
I no longer patronize the Aurora Mall because of the teenagers. I know that they’re not all bad; in fact, most of them aren’t. But the bad ones spoil it for the good ones.
Nancy LaNasa, Aurora
It is too bad that one has to suffer for the acts of others, but I don’t think it is fair for Aurora Mall management to have to baby-sit either. Parents, where and what are your children doing?
It might look like the mall is discriminating, but I find it hard to believe that a major mall management company would put itself in jeopardy if there were no problem. Who are you going to blame if something happens to someone? They have a duty to protect and to provide a safe and secure environment to all of their customers.
How many security guards do you think can watch a bunch of kids just “hanging out”? Yeah, they might buy some stuff, but how many other people are scared off (like me) who don’t like shopping in such an atmosphere of uncontrolled “hanging”?
It should not be the responsibility of a mall to have to monitor gangs of children who just come to the mall to meet and greet or just to find something to do. It is the responsibility of the parents to control their own and find them something to do on the weekends. Maybe a job or more homework would help keep them from getting bored.
Gary Crawford, Aurora
Disaster response and the role of government
The Denver Post should not miss this opportunity to write a series of articles about the public’s expectations of government during a crisis such as the one in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. This is when anti-taxation sentiment, tax-limitation legislation, and downsizing the federal government should be debated.
Is the role of government to anticipate disasters, initiate preventive measures and be prepared to act quickly and decisively? Should the government have surplus resources at all times to respond rather than be in a deficit situation as we are today? And is that affecting the federal government’s response to the needs of the people of this region? Is it better to rely on the Red Cross and charities to raise funds and manage the survival efforts?
Ask the Independence Institute for its position on the government’s role in disaster situations. Ask conservatives what they would expect of government if this disaster were taking place in Denver. Is the average citizen who votes for candidates who promise lower taxes and smaller government willing to wait for food, water and shelter because the government is ill-prepared to help?
This is the time for people to be challenged. You can’t have it both ways.
Mark Zaitz, Englewood
Instead of a governor, why not a manager?
Re: “Is it time to recruit an out-of-state guv?” Aug. 27 editorial.
Yes, it is time to recruit someone from out of state. And why not a state manager? Some of our cities hire city managers, and the concept works. Colorado is nothing more than a huge corporation.
Hire an existing or retired CEO who can meet strict qualifications. He or she should have a clean record of experience and an appropriate education in whatever background they come from. An applicant should be a registered independent, thus eliminating party devotion. This should result in an applicant highly devoted to good management and devoid of temptations such as considering being governor a personal “plum.” Self-aggrandizement often goes along with the title of “governor.”
By coincidence, the editorial has suggested former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld would be “perfect here.” It also says, “He’s a proven tax cutter.” If so, and considering his other attributes and desires to become a governor, the state has a leg up. Send him an application for being considered as manager of the state of Colorado.
Earle Wilson, Wellington
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