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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, January 11, 2007

Letters to the Editor

Admiral William J. Fallon

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MIDEAST

WHAT DOES CENTCOM DECISION REALLY MEAN?

Should we be puzzled by the logic of appointing a Navy admiral as head of U.S. Central Command to oversee two ground wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?

Clearly, if the Bush/Cheney regime's purpose is merely to escalate the war in Iraq by adding additional troops. However, with two Navy flotillas in the Persian Gulf, it makes perfect sense if your purpose is to make a far more radical "double-down" in the region by launching coordinated air attacks from the carrier groups and Air Force bombers on Iran.

Is criminal recklessness about to morph into suicidal madness? I pray not, but shudder to contemplate the consequences for our nation if such prayers simply go floating forlornly in the wind.

David P. Ericson
Honolulu

FALLON SELECTION A SMART CHOICE

Advertiser military writer William Cole reported that President Bush's new secretary of defense, Robert Gates, recently recommended that Adm. William J. Fallon take command of U.S. Central Command, including responsibility for the campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.

What great news.

Admiral Fallon has exactly the right qualifications for a job that will entail dealing with Iran's ongoing effort to throw sand in the face of Uncle Sam. Iran is launching terrorist intervention initiatives to thwart Iraqi efforts to establish a representative form of democratic government under difficult circumstances.

Admiral Fallon is a naval aviator with operational combat experience.

Iran is highly vulnerable to a modest series of carrier-launched combat sorties targeting their above-ground infrastructure at places like Bandar Abbas.

Such an air strike would quickly eliminate Iran's current ability to recover, process, transport, store and load cargo tankers with crude oil.

As perhaps nothing else might, the selection of Admiral Fallon to take command of CentCom will focus the attention of heavy hitters in Tehran on their increasing risk if they continue their state sponsorship of international terror.

Thomas E. Stuart
Kapa'au, Hawai'i

ISLAND VOICES

COLUMN ON HAWAIIANS WAS UNJUST AND BIASED

This is in regard to the commentary by Jere Krischel (Jan. 9).

It amazes me how people who do not live in Hawai'i and do not see what is happening to our Islands have such strong opinions.

Obviously, since you're in California, you do not see what is happening to our island people.

When was the last time you drove around the west side of O'ahu? When was the last time you drove around east side of our island? There's a big difference in what you will see. Our island has become divided, and dominated by the wealthy. How many Hawaiians are living on Kahala Avenue and how many Hawaiians are living on the west side of the island?

Your commentary is unjust and biased. The next time you write about a particular race, you should actually visit the places that are using the grants. Maybe you might have a different opinion.

Alice Lenchanko
'Ewa Beach

HAWAI'I KAI MEDIAN

CITY IS CORRECTING A DANGEROUS SITUATION

There appears to be some misunderstanding in the letters to your newspaper regarding the city's proposed project to remove a small segment of the Lunalilo Home Road median.

While I questioned the original installation of the entire median strip on Lunalilo Home Road as a waste of taxpayer resources, the city is not looking at spending more taxpayer money to remove the entire median strip.

Instead, the city is removing about 140 feet of the median fronting the Union 76 gas station, the Hawaii National Bank building and the Hawai'i Kai church.

The median should never have been placed in front of these commercial properties in the first place because of the large number of left turns into these properties.

Too many drivers are engaging in the dangerous practice of attempting to drive up the wrong side of the road and then make a left turn into these properties. By removing a portion of the median, the city is correcting a hazardous condition on our roads.

Charles K. Djou
Councilman, District IV (Waikiki, East Honolulu)

REMOVAL IS A COSTLY, SHORTSIGHTED DECISION

I am joining the sea of opposition to the incredible waste of $100,000 to remove the traffic calming and congestion-removing median strip on Lunalilo Home Road in Hawai'i Kai.

The median strip is not only functional, but it provides a respite of greenery and shade in a cement desert.

I am outraged, and strongly object to the selfish and inconsiderate position of those who support the removal.

As members of the Hawai'i Kai community, they should realize that their desire for convenient access is trivial and short-sighted when compared with the greater good for which the median strip provides.

Nina Eejima
Honolulu

POOR MAN'S LAW

HANDOUTS JUST KEEP PEOPLE IN POVERTY

On Jan. 7, letter writer Thomas Jelf suggested a "poor man's law" that would require those who save over a certain amount to give a huge portion of their life savings to the poor.

I'm glad Mr. Jelf pointed this out, for it clearly exposes the far left's socialist agenda, where wealth redistribution is a major theme.

By removing incentives to grow, what would happen to a pharmaceutical mogul such as Herbert Boyer, who invented cheaper methods of making insulin? Rather than spending more of his own resources to find a cure for perhaps cancer or AIDS, retirement looks a lot nicer once the first billion is met. This new law will ultimately be a detriment to all of society.

Supporters of a poor man's law sound like spoiled children who preach an entitlement mentality. They feel that they are entitled to other people's belongings, even though they did not earn them.

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for life.

Government handouts create more poor people and keep them poorer longer.

Justin L. Tanoue
Kane'ohe

WAI'ANAE PROJECT

TALLER BUILDINGS ARE MORE EFFICIENT LAND USE

Tall vs. sprawl: How can we keep the country country and sustain agriculture and our rural communities?

The recent controversy over the height of a proposed affordable housing project in Wai'anae epitomizes the dilemma.

Is it better to adhere to height limits and use more land for development with consequent increased unit costs and decreased open space, or to build upward, altering views but using our limited space more efficiently and economically?

Or might we place a moratorium on building, thus preserving the land while forcing more houseless residents to leave the Islands for cheaper living on the Mainland?

My reluctant vote is for taller buildings.

David Bremer
Mililani

PUBLIC/PRIVATE

INTERPRETATIONS SEEM TO SUIT OWN AGENDAS

The City & County of Honolulu says a 20-year-old agreement with Turtle Bay's owners is valid, and the public be damned.

Now Campbell Estate says a 20-year-old agreement with the State of Hawai'i is no longer valid (Page B1, Jan. 5).

The state complied with the conditions to develop the land by the end of 2006, although only about half of the land has been developed. This would seem to meet the requirements.

Do these two different interpretations confuse us? People in government and private enterprise interpret their agreements to suit their own personal agenda, it seems to me.

Joanne Fong
'Ewa Beach

HIGHER COSTS

ELECTED OFFICIALS TAXING PEOPLE OUT OF PARADISE

Right on, Mr. Gary Waters, I fully agree with your letter Jan. 4 ("Lucky we live Hawai'i? Taxes, fees all rising").

Might I add my congratulations to all of the state legislators and our great City Council?

You have all managed to tax us out of paradise. Middle-income families and low-income families really appreciate you making our lives a little harder each day.

When I move, I might have to buy a snow shovel. But you know what? I'll be able to afford it.

Did I vote? Yes. Will I vote again? Yes.

Mike McDavitt
Kapolei

REDEMPTION CENTERS

Why does recycling have to be so difficult?

I just had another bad experience redeeming recyclables.

When I arrived at the redemption center, I was told the container was full.

Why is it so easy for our money to be collected, but so hard for us to get it back? Why are we being made to drive to the next redemption center? There were two more hours that they should have been open.

Brian Chang
Mililani