Dear Editor, We Americans continuously fail to realize that
combating terrorism requires reacting to our enemies in terms they
can understand and fear. Appeasement is the path of least
resistance for those with weak minds and base incentives.
Time to fight fire with fire when it comes to terrorist attacks
Dear Editor,
We Americans continuously fail to realize that combating terrorism requires reacting to our enemies in terms they can understand and fear. Appeasement is the path of least resistance for those with weak minds and base incentives. These behaviors devolve rapidly to the fundamental war equation of win or lose.
The Soviets had the right solution to terrorism when four of their diplomats were kidnapped in Lebanon by Hezbollah 23 years ago. The KGB kidnapped six fundamentalists and sliced off a few fingers, sending the severed digits to the fundamentalist leadership with the message, “release our people or you’ll get yours back piece by piece and more to follow.”
I’m a firm believer on counterterrorism warfare, up-close, personal and quietly. The technological genie is out of the bottle – small actors can now threaten a superpower. This fact will not change.
It is unrealistic and even naive to believe that we can permanently end terrorism or terrorist threats to our homeland.
We cannot stop every determined airline bomber, but we must prevent a mushroom cloud over an American city or a catastrophic biological attack on our nation. We cannot kill, capture or deter every terrorist, but we must contain them by limiting their capabilities, their global reach, and their financial resources.
Stephen Dorcich, San Martin
Dress like NASCAR drivers; we’d like the health plan Congress has
Dear Editor,
Robin Williams came up with a fantastic plan,
For all the legislators of our cherished land
He wants them to dress like the NASCAR Drivers,
With different patches of their lobbyist providers
Just like the racers who tell us of their incoming cash,
The Congressmen would be exposing their funding stash
So now when they abstain or vote against a bill,
We’d be more informed of why their voice is still
And now after the Supreme Court’s most recent decision,
The corporation’s donations will be on public exhibition
And another thing of which I’m very concerned,
Of our nation’s healthcare bill and where it has turned
If Congress can’t decide what the people need,
Looking at their health plan will bring us up to speed
They seem to have no problem with their own plan,
So let’s give that a try for the people of our land
And I’m sure that’s something,
that we can all agree
If it’s good enough for Congress,
it’s good enough for you and me
Tom Engebretson, Gilroy
Urge local legislators to support animal welfare bills
Dear Editor,
The State Legislature’s newly-formed “Animal Protection Caucus” gives great hope to animal lovers throughout the state. It is both bipartisan, multi-ethnic, and growing, up to 22 members at last count.
The caucus is co-chaired by senators Dean Florez (D-Shafter) and Tony Strickland (R-Thousand Oaks), and Assemblymembers Cameron Smyth (R-Santa Clarita) and Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara). Kudos to all.
People who care about animals and the environment comprise the biggest lobby in California. Here are three animal welfare bills in need of an author (in print, but unbacked): (1) a bill to amend current rodeo law (Penal Code 596.7) to require on-site veterinary care for injured animals; (2) a bill to ban the brutal “steer tailing” event, which cripples steers and horses alike; and (3) a bill to ban the use of the hugely unethical electronic duck decoys (“roboducks”), disdained by most hunters. Deadline for introduction is Feb. 19.
Constituents should encourage their legislators to join the Animal Protection Caucus, and consider introducing one of the bills noted above.
All may be written c/o The State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814.
Eric Mills, coordinator, Action for Animals, Oakland
