Hawaiian TelCom's parade is getting wet
Recently you had an article about how Hawaiian TelCom was getting on the ball and going to offer real competition to Oceanic Cable, in the form of supplying TV programs (
Star-Bulletin, June 4).
I wonder if this is the same Hawaiian Telcom that thinks a five-day weather forecast is always Thursday through Monday, no matter what day you ask for it?
I'm not sure they've got what it takes.
Bart Mathias
Honolulu
Mayor's complaints are deafening
Mayor Hannemann has done absolutely nothing since taking office that impresses the community -- maybe his friends, but not the taxpayers.
He has spent the last 12 months bad-mouthing the former mayor and members of the community who participated on Vision Projects and community improvement. He has dismantled or pulled funding from programs and projects that taxpayers spent hundreds of volunteer hours to put together. He has disregarded what the taxpayers designated as of great or pressing importance to them. He has wasted millions taking apart the former mayor's initiatives and the taxpayers' projects and replaced them with pothole recipes.
He has taken credit or placed his picture on projects created by the city team under the former mayor. This mayor is a punch in the eye for taxpayers. Now he is chasing a fixed rail solution to our traffic woes. Someone needs to replace him or we will have more years ahead of his complaining and blaming.
P. Manfredi
Kaimuki
Is Case an elephant in donkey's clothing?
It is very advantageous for
Rep. Ed Case to say that he supported the war in Iraq in 2002 because of the so-called presence of WMD in Iraq.
Please ask him why in 2005, when he visited Guantanamo, he gave it a glowing report. Because he did not see anything wrong there?
Come off it. From the records of his votes, one would think that he really belongs to the Republican Party.
T.B. Lam
Hawaii Kai
Case's change of heart on Iraq disingenuous
I find
Rep. Ed Case's sudden change in opinion regarding the war in Iraq to be a very pathetic attempt to appeal to local voters. He says this change is based on now knowing that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. However, that information was already established some time ago. It is very convenient for him to voice his disapproval for a now unpopular war since we are approaching the November election, just as it was very convenient for him to voice his support for a more popular war back in October 2002 as he sought election to Congress. Rather than concerning himself with winning votes and appeasing his constituents, Case ought to take a stand for what he believes is right, regardless of its popularity.
Jeremy Garrett
Mililani
Bush should find leak, not blame the press
The New York Times or any newspaper should be free to print anything it wants, regardless of whether the government thinks it's secret. President Bush is so inept that he calls the Times' exposing a secret Bush administration program tracking suspected terrorists' finances "disgraceful"! He should find out who is leaking this information in the first place, instead of blaming the New York Times.
The basic problem in our government is leaking secrets and government officials should correct the problem, not blame others. We need a more reliable leader, not one who is a warmonger and hypocrite who makes many wrong decisions. Do we want to continue to follow a loser?
Francis K. Ibara
Kahului, Maui
Soldiering and politics do not mix well
As an Army officer, if I chose to stop and take a "courageous stand" for a political belief, I wouldn't be a hero, I'd be dead and so would my subordinates.
There are quite a number of letter writers here who think that part of the soldier's duty description is to "seek to right a wrong." That job belongs to politicians and not soldiers. Our job is to complete our mission, whatever it may be, and to bring our soldiers home intact. Our duty is in support of the United States, the Army and to our comrades. If Ehren Watada had been anywhere near a combat zone he would know this. Obviously he does not.
Not many have touched upon the fact that he tried to resign his commission based on his beliefs. I wouldn't want a self-serving individual like him leading one of my platoons, but the Army chose to keep him around probably because of the high demand for his military occupational specialty, which I believe is infantry. He could have held his peace until he left my Army, but instead he chose to make a spectacle of himself to the embarrassment of veterans worldwide, especially Asian/Pacific veterans who have a long history of true heroism.
Bottom line for you letter writers is that Watada is, or was, a soldier first, not a politician. The two do not mix.
Steve Lai
Mililani
Watada is taking an honorable stand
Today I read two commentaries about Lt. Ehren Watada's ethics and bravery. I would like to apologize to my fellow citizens for those who will not see what a patriot this young man is. As a ward of the government, Watada is standing up for all of us and telling George Bush, "Sir, not in my name. I will not kill for you in this illegal and immoral war."
I fear the Army will treat him harshly when he should be given a medal. To his family, I say you have raised an honorable, intelligent and selfless son. You are to be commended.
Robert Lloyd
Ewa Beach