Containment may be best policy on Iraq
Saddam Hussein has to know that the world now regrets that he and his regime were allowed to survive the Gulf War. He has to know that the end result would be dramatically and swiftly different following further aggressive action on his part.Considering his country's devastating and humiliating defeat in the Gulf War, it seems unlikely that he would initiate another aggressive military action anywhere, though he's probably proud to think that the world seems to dread his ability to do so. Therefore, I think the greater danger from him is his likely chemical and biological reaction to being attacked -- maybe even in a last-ditch, suicidal frame of mind.
In spite of all the real and imagined evidence of his arsenal, I think Saddam is likely to die with it unused if we simply continue a containment policy while vigorously pressing the United Nations to fully enforce the mandates and sanctions generated during the past decade. We're likely to gain more by threatening to withdraw support from a demonstrably impotent United Nations than by a war with Iraq. We are unlikely to find greater justification, ever, for doing so.
Gene M. Leupp
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Voting by race as American as apple pie
I believe ethnicity is a fact of life in this election and in many more elections to come.The near-utopian political scene outlined in Keith Haugen's letter ("Ethnicity shouldn't be a factor in election," Star-Bulletin, Sept. 23) does not exist in Hawaii or in scores of communities and states throughout America.
Yes, I believe as he does that we are all Americans. But I also believe there are still far too many Americans who consider themselves to be more "American" than others, who wear their own brand of "white Americanism" on their sleeves and behave, act and orate accordingly. And they are prevalent at every level of our society.
I believe until all such traces of racism are purged from our society, block voting by ethnic groups will continue. Its principal aim, of course, is to politically influence legislation that will ensure level playing fields for themselves, the same as for all Americans. This is democracy at work. It's as American as apple pie in coping with our population diversity. Its existence is truly a measure of our greatness as a nation.
Larry T. Hayashida
Wahiawa
Candidates behaving like naughty children
OK, let's see now ... It was only Day 3 of the gubernatorial campaign when the name-calling and accusations started coming out. This is a change? These two candidates, one of whom will be part of a historical event by becoming the first female governor of Hawaii, are acting like children in a sandbox, throwing sand at each other and arguing.I don't know if I can stand this for the next 40 days. What possible incentive do I have to vote for either Mazie Hirono or Linda Lingle? This sounds like the same-o, same-o. Maybe I'll just stay home on Nov. 5.
Fran Orian
Hawaii was real loser in primary election
Apparently, a number of Linda Lingle's backers crossed over in Saturday's primary and voted for Mazie Hirono to ensure Lingle of an easier race in the general election. This has been insinuated in the news, and I've talked with several people who say they and their friends did it.If it's true, Hawaii is still mired in self-serving, special-interest politics. If Republican cross-over voters had really been motivated by change, they would have voted for Ed Case in the primary. Doing so would have guaranteed real change. But no, the tactic was purely political.
Yes, Lingle would have had a tougher race against Case, but voters would have heard a great debate over the specific types of change each candidate sought and how to achieve them. We're not going to see that now. We're going to see old-fashioned pandering by the candidates to get as many votes as possible.
Ed Case didn't lose on Saturday. Hawaii did.
Joel B. Kennedy
Apathy is insulting to those who sacrifice
I, like many people, always dread major election years. The candidates all have TV and radio advertising talking about the need for change and all the problems we have to face up to. The ads all seem so contrived and insincere, it is no wonder that most of the electorate here decided to stay home and watch football rather than exercise their right to choose.I really think Hawaii is routinely short-changed by not have the best and the brightest running for office. Regardless of how bad I think the candidates we have to choose from are, it would be much worse for me if I did not exercise my right to vote.
As I read the results on Sunday, I could not help thinking of the guys we have sitting in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Korea and even the barracks here in Hawaii. If I had not voted, it would have seemed like a direct insult to all those young men and women. If I had not voted, it would have seemed like a direct insult to all those who gave their lives in the years before. The right to choose our representatives is probably the most important right we have in our country.
The apathy shown by the voters of Hawaii means that very few people choose for them -- and many of those people do not have the best interests of the people of Hawaii at heart.
David Kluempers
Ewa Beach
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