Marines not at fault for Iraqis' looting

I find it ludicrous to place blame on the U.S. Marines for the looting of Baghdad when it was the Iraqi people themselves who did the looting ("Marines had their priorities backward," Letters, April 27).

Does anyone remember the old story about the clearing of the swamp? "It is difficult to keep one's primary objective of clearing the swamp in focus when one is up to his waist in alligators."

I also believe that had the Marines occupied the museums they would have been accused of trying to steal the artifacts for themselves, and enraged the Iraqis even more.

To some people, it would not have mattered what the Marines did; it would have been wrong.

Semper fi.

Richard Broyles
Fort Mill, S.C.
Frequent Hawaii visitor

Now let's go attack France and Berkeley

We have pounded Afghanistan and Iraq now. Are we done yet? We have certainly made our point that we are the most fearsome nation that ever existed. So do we have to pound Iran now, too? How about North Korea? They are asking for it. Why not? We would sacrifice Seoul and maybe Tokyo, but hey, they are far away and we need the entertainment.

War has become a spectator sport and the beer companies need the support. If we blow the rest of the world off the map, we should be safe, yeah? Then we could start on maybe southern California because people there have a habit of not being completely patriotic and need to be taught a lesson. Too many kooks and protesters. Oh, I forgot Berkeley.

We might as well move some long-range bombers into range of Paris. Darn French, they never cooperate, either. Probably had investments in Iraq. Certainly our grandchildren will thank us for making the U.S. the only country left. They probably won't want to go past the coasts anyway because there won't be much of anything left there and they will be paying for our wars and won't have spending money.

Let's keep up the good work. Iran is next, then on to Syria and Jordan! There is no limit to our power. Hip hip hooray for the Bushies and military might!

There are a lot of un-American creeps out there who need to be un-evilized and now we have the momentum. Let's go!

Grant Merritt

People can help God alleviate suffering

I have heard that at the height of the Persian Gulf crisis during Desert Storm in 1991 a reporter interviewed an Arab, Mr. Habib, who was on the staff of the Middle East Council of Churches. The reporter asked Mr. Habib, "Saddam says God is on his side. Bush says God is on the Allied side. Whose side is God on, do you think?"

Mr. Habib replied, "God is on the side of those who suffer."

It would seem that today we need to learn again and again that God is on the side of those suffering in Iraq, in America and everywhere in our world. Our men and women in the service have sacrificed their lives for what they believed in. Now we who are the "haves" must learn to give all we've got to help God relieve the great suffering of the "have-nots" of the world.

Armin H. Kroehler
Kalihi Valley

Lunalilo median plan is unnecessary

My research with the state Department of Transportation and Honolulu Police Department shows that there is no need for the planned $1.5 million "traffic calming" construction on Lunalilo Home Road:

>> There was one traffic fatality in 1999 (Sept. 24) on Lunalilo Home Road at Kalanipuu Street. This is not within the proposed "traffic calming" area.

>> From 1990 to 1999, there were 39 accidents at the intersection of Lunalilo Home Road and Hawaii Kai Drive and no fatalities; and Lunalilo's intersection with Hawaii Kai Drive is not within the "traffic calming" area.

>> A review of HPD's Major/Minor Motor Vehicle Collision Reports for the years 1992/2000 shows that there were no accidents on Lunalilo Home Road in the area being considered for the median strip (Kalanianaole Highway to Kalakua Street).

>> The addition of a median strip will remove one traffic lane from Lunalilo Home Road.

>> The planting of 52 trees will eliminate much-needed parking space on the street.

>> The Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board has not approved the plan.

>> We will need all of the current traffic lanes when people settle into the condominiums being built across from Kaiser High School.

Sumner Howard

Voters are tired of tax-and-spenders

Just so our mayor and legislators know, we sure don't like the atmosphere at City Hall and at the Legislature when all they can come up with are more taxes to support their favorite projects. I do want to give credit to the City Council for trying hard to keep the tax increases down and questioning the mayor's budget.

When money is tight, we homemakers bite the bullet and trim expenses -- not our mayor, who thinks Sunset on the Beach and cost overruns are necessary services.

The Legislature has found fit in these hard financial times to approve the long-term care insurance tax. This tax sounds like a good idea, but do people realize they have to contribute for 10 years before being eligible and then their benefits last for only one year? And the monies will no doubt end up in the general fund. The federal government has a hard time making Social Security financially viable. Can our solons promise to do better, or will the present $10 fee escalate whenever needed to fund this tax on our future generations? Remember the hurricane fund?

Anneliese Chun
Kailua