VonAppen should be
penalized for negativity

Coach vonAppen has been nothing but critical since his arrival. It was tolerable in the beginning, but now I find this very disturbing.

I remember when fans started to send $25 checks to help the program but VonAppen said we need more than nickels and dimes. How the fans must have felt at that.

VonAppen's continued critical remarks about the UH and the state should be stopped. If he is so big time, why is this his first head coaching job?

Kenneth T. Hazemoto

Aircraft carriers have
definite advantages

Your Aug. 26 editorial, "The era of the aircraft carrier may be ending," contained a few half-truths but neglected the whole truth. Your assertion that "carrier-based air support takes longer to deploy than ground-based planes" is only partially true and depends greatly on circumstance.

In the early 1980s, during the raid on Libya, ground-based planes flew from bases in Germany, detoured around French airspace and reached their targets after many hours in the air.

Carrier-based planes reached their targets in minutes. Often carriers will be deployed to potential trouble areas, putting them on the scene before they are needed.

The claim that land-based aircraft are somehow cheaper than carrier-based planes is also doubtful.

Your editorial cites spending $260 billion over the next 10 years for carrier aircraft, but neglects to mention the $300 billion Congress is planning to spend next year for additional B-2 bombers.

I also take exception to your notion that "a carrier-based aircraft is the most expensive way to deliver a bomb to a target." At $2 billion a copy, the B-2 may be the most expensive way of delivering a bomb. Of course, we have no real way of measuring this since the B-2 has yet to deliver a bomb against a hostile target.

The Air Force does many things very well, but lacks the ability to maintain a 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year presence off a hostile shore. The Navy can and has demonstrated this capability and will do so in the future.

Kevin Fraser

Rodrigues plays politics
instead of helping union

In your Aug. 23 article, "Rodrigues doubts Lingle will be elected governor," Gary Rodrigues said the union is deciding on whom to endorse.

Excuse me, but I don't remember him consulting union members to find a general consensus on whom we wish to endorse for governor. It seems as though Rodrigues is speaking for himself.

I am a UPW member (Unit 10), and I resent how Rodrigues uses his position as UPW chief. He seems to spend all his time playing politics, and has forgotten what his job is.

I would like to see Rodrigues take some time out from his busy political schedule and address the needs and concerns of union members. I also resent his statement that Mayor Harris "has a lot more to show" in his performance as mayor of Honolulu.

Who is Rodrigues to criticize performance? Maybe he should let his union members critique his performance, but I don't think the results would be to his liking.

Daniel J. Bryant
Sergeant
Oahu Community Correctional Center

Waikiki may be paradise
but it sure is noisy

We can accept the night noise of ambulance, fire engine and police vehicles, but we are upset by the noises from late-evening tour buses, motorcycles and automobiles that race down Ala Wai Boulevard.

One of our Waikiki Neighborhood Board meetings was disrupted by tour buses passing by the Waikiki Community Center.

Isn't it time to require mufflers on these noise-makers that ruin our so-called paradise for tourists?

Scott Hamilton

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