Setting the record straight



J.H. Young (Jan. 25, 20007) implies that Baron Hill lied as to why he changed his mind about the Iraq war. Young quotes President Clinton and Sen. McCain. Neither quotation demonstrates that President Bush did not lie about weapons of mass destruction. Instead of asserting that Bush lied, I shall use the euphemism “misled.”

We know that he misled us on these matters: a) That Saddam was buying uranium from Niger, and b) that metal tubes had been discovered, suitable for a nuclear centrifuge. As to a), Ambassador Joseph Wilson, a career foreign service officer with extensive African experience, after visiting Niger, reported no plausible evidence of a Iraq-Niger deal. In a 2002 speech in Cincinnati, Bush announced the Iraq purchase. For a speech later that year, upon CIA advice, he deleted this item. Then in his 2003 State of the Union, a speech the CIA did not vet, he mentioned it again, without noting reservations about its validity.

As for b), when Colin Powell spoke before the UN, he displayed photos of the aluminum tubes, asserting they were appropriate for making a nuclear centrifuge. Well before this, nuclear experts at Oak Ridge told the administration these tubes could not be used for a centrifuge. Subsequently, Powell has publicly said he was misinformed about this and other material in his speech. (For further details, see comments by Lawrence Wilkerson, Powell’s long-time aide at NPR.org for the 11/03/05 Morning Edition broadcast.)

The second letter by S. Langdon (Jan. 25, 2007) commits historical and logical errors.

Langdon says Democrats in the House of Representatives took two weeks to fulfill their “100 hours” promises. Of course, eight hours per day per five day weeks equals 80 hours. In fact, the “100 hours” pledges were completed in the first 87 hours the House was in session. He concludes by claiming liberals favor the minimum wage increase, as long as it doesn’t apply to their own districts, although he mentions only one congressional district where he claims that occurred. Since there are more than 330 House Democrats is that logical reasoning?

— Thomas Wolf, New Albany





Let’s vote on Clarksville recycling first



On Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007, Ms. Sharon Marra, director of Clark County Solid Waste District, brought her curb-side recycling road show, to the Clarksville Town Council meeting. This appearance was to try and sell her recycling plan to the council, in hopes that Clarksville will remain in the recycling program.

Council member Kelly Conn stated at Tuesday’s meeting, “This plan is favored by a majority of citizens.” If this is the case, let us do it the democratic way. There is a primary this May, let’s put this to a vote and see exactly how many residents really like it. If it passes, so be it, but if not, my suggestion would be for Ms. Marra to take her curb-side recycling show to another town.

— Ralph Gilbert, Clarksville



Recycling is a good thing



I read a newspaper article in regarding recycling in Clarksville.

I am sure Clarksville’s Town Council is better informed and more progressive than Clark County, who dropped recycling. When the landfills are full it will cost more to ship it elsewhere.

I sympathize with Mr. Phipps, but he should raise $3 a month on each of his 33 units. I have no rental units, but willing to pay.

I hope Sellersburg votes to recycle.

— Dorothy Boyce Dickey, Clarksville



Money makes the laws

If anyone doubts that lobbyists and campaign bribes — excuse me, contributions, control our legislatures, then one only need look at a few recent decisions in Frankfort and Indianapolis i.e. mandatory seat belts use vs. no restrictions on cell phone usage while driving. Unlike cell phone usage, seat belts have no relevance to our ability to safely operate a vehicle, yet it is now an “offense.” Why? Because the insurance industry demands it — to pay less in medical claims, and they have paid our lawmakers enough to get their way. If saving us from ourselves were there actual motive, then our legislators would outlaw more dangerous behavior such as cigarettes and even NASCAR. But those industries generate way too much money for the legislature to dare touch them.

The same is true of driving while talking on cell phones. Credible studies have consistently shown that drivers’ phone usage is dangerous, increasing the chance of accidents by 17 to 20 percent. Think about it, anything that takes a driver’s hands off the wheel and their mind off the road, restricts their peripheral vision, and impairs their ability to use turn signals or horn — gotta keep at least one hand on the wheel, is a hazard. We’ve all had bad experiences with chatty drivers and have seen the news about accidents, injuries and deaths involving drivers using phones. Unfortunately, our supposed leaders value the opinion and cash of the big communication companies far more than they value our safety.

— P. J. Moore, Georgetown



Reader: Bush should be impeached



When our “Supreme Court” appointed Bush president an editorial cartoon appeared in a local paper. It showed Sandra Day O’Connor, teetering on high heels carrying Bush over the threshold.

On TV the other day there was Sandra Day O’Connor sitting with Jim Baker and Lee Hamilton trying to get Bush out of his horrible mess.

When this country was formed men sat for days setting up this new country, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, a President, Congress and House of Representatives, checks and balances.

Then along came Bush and Cheney. Men who would be king; “I am the decider.”

I am amazed and worried at what America has become.

Never did I think a Supreme Court could appoint us a president, but they did, and it’s been downhill since then.

We then invaded a country because Bush wanted Saddam to get even for his father. We were told of nukes, weapons of mass destruction, all lies.

We have people being picked up with no hearings, wire tapping and torture. This is America?

Bush said we are fighting for democracy in Iraq, in the meantime, we are losing ours here in America.

This is one president who should be impeached for the great damage he has done to this country.

— Dorothy Carpenter, New Albany