Brainstorm! Challenge

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Pride in one's job won't pay the bills

I was appalled that the Star-Bulletin printed Bruce Schaper's letter ("Government workers expect too much," April 12). I'm a private sector employee but interface extensively with public sector employees and find most of them to be diligent and professional.

Money is not the only reason people choose a certain job. There should be great pride in providing public service. Maybe this is what some public sector employees "want out of (their) job and life." But this doesn't mean that they have to make a personal financial sacrifice.

What's wrong with paying our government employees a fair wage? If we, as a society, are not willing to do this, then we shouldn't complain about the quality of public service, because you get what you pay for.

Ronald Nishihara
Ewa Beach

Obsession with Iraq blinded president

The authors of the Aug. 6, 2001, Presidential Daily Briefing titled "Bin Laden Determined to Attack Inside the United States" might have gotten President Bush's attention had they made one small change: replace bin Laden's name with "Saddam."

Instead of relaxing at his ranch, Bush would have been running around with his hair on fire, to borrow a phrase from Richard Clarke. Perhaps he might have taken steps that could have prevented al-Qaida from carrying out the 9/11 attacks.

Further, if the briefing had linked Iraq to potential terrorist attacks, you can bet the Bush administration would now be waving around that PDB and citing it as proof that invading Iraq was justified, instead of dismissing those warnings as merely being "historical" in nature.

To ignore such strong warnings of an impending terrorist attack, as Bush did, should be grounds for impeachment. To launch a war on Iraq based on weak intelligence and "historical" evidence more than a decade old is criminal. Come November, it is our duty as citizens to send this administration a clear message: We will not stand for being deceived and lied to, Mr. President.

Rich Figel
Kailua

Bush's Iraq errors can be remedied

I'm a Republican who voted for President Bush, but I feel compelled to speak up about some serious miscalculations I think "W" has made in Iraq and what can be done to correct them.

One major error was appointing the Iraqi Governing Council. You look like hypocrites if you say you're in Iraq to bring them democracy and then refuse to let them elect their own leaders.

Another error was shutting down that Shiite newspaper. No free press, no democracy. I'd be incensed, too, if someone shut down a paper I read because some hot-headed leader made inflammatory remarks in an editorial. I wouldn't take up arms, but hey, this is Iraq, where people take their Second Amendment rights seriously.

Don't get me wrong -- I respect Bush. I realize that being president is a difficult job entailing making hard choices and learning from your mistakes.

So what should be done? Simple. Give Iraqis democracy. Give them free speech -- tell the Shiites that if they cease their insurrection, they can reopen their paper. Give them elections -- register all Iraqi citizens to vote, then have the U.N. hold an election to replace the governing council with an elected body. Give them a constitution -- tell the elected representatives they are free to write any constitution they want, subject to our veto if we think it will lead to a civil war because it doesn't protect the minority rights of Sunnis and Kurds.

Then give them sovereignty.

Jim Henshaw
Kaneohe

9/11 probe should do more than find fault

If the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States only looks to find fault and fails to make substantial recommendations for future U.S. security and intelligence operations, it will be nothing more than a huge waste of time and taxpayers' money.

It seems that those screeching loudest about blaming someone (in the Bush administration) for not taking action to prevent the events of 9/11 are the ones likely to have protested the most about any "civil liberty infringing" measures affecting immigration, arrests, interrogations and airline security taken before 9/11. We need foresight, not Monday-morning quarterbacking.

Frank Genadio
Kapolei

U.S. can't remake Iraq in its image

Apparently, patience and tolerance has run out on U.S. plans for freedom and democracy in Iraq. Now that Saddam is gone and there is no substantial evidence of weapons of mass destruction, the mission is complete. The Iraqi people have been liberated, so it is time for Americans to go home.

Now the Iraqi people must make up their own minds about what they want. This is their struggle, not ours! The cost should to be paid for with Iraqi lives, not American. One day, the people of Iraq will get tired of killing one another and rise up to want something different. Until that day, Americans need to live and let live without interference. Permanent change can come only from within the hearts of the Iraqi people.

Live and let live: Isn't that what America is really about?

Raymond Feliciano
Mililani

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[ BRAINSTORM! ] Hawaii is popularly known as "The Aloha State." What might be a better slogan? To get started, think about what you might see around the islands -- rainbows, waves, sand, traffic jams, homeless orangutans ... Send your ideas by April 21 to: brainstorm@starbulletin.com Or by mail: Brainstorm! c/o Nancy Christenson Star-Bulletin 500 Ala Moana 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Or by fax: Brainstorm! c/o Nancy Christenson 529-4750