[Peace-discuss] Thank You for the letters in the N-G today!

[Jan & Durl Kruse]

Three articles were well worth reading

Friday January 25, 2008

I was pleased by three articles published in the Jan. 20 News-Gazette.  
The most powerful was a guest commentary entitled "Local families speak  
out against war in Iraq."

The seven collaborating authors are to be commended for their bravery  
and persistence in keeping this issue before the public. Today, nothing  
is more important – morally, economically and politically – than ending  
this war immediately, and it is sad that this is not the highest  
priority of every candidate for office. Let's hope it will be the  
highest priority of voters.

One reason it has been difficult to keep the public engaged with the  
war is the refusal of mainstream media, especially television, to focus  
on serious issues. This was highlighted in a second guest commentary  
entitled, "Diet of TV news bad for health." In it, TV producers were  
criticized for their superficial coverage of the presidential campaigns  
that focus more on polls, strategy and personality than on candidates'  
policy positions.

It was encouraging that The News-Gazette broke out of this mold with  
these guest commentaries and, finally, with an article entitled  
"Homeless on the Homefront" that describes the plight of homeless  
veterans.

I strongly encourage readers to read all of these articles and, prior  
to voting, to contact your existing representatives to demand that they  
end the Iraq war and fund reparations to all of those whose lives have  
been torn apart or destroyed.

GARY STORM

Urbana
  Find this article at:
   
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/opinions/letters/2008/01/25/ 
three_articles_were_well_worth_reading



U.S. must abandon its position in Iraq

Friday January 25, 2008

I commend The News-Gazette for printing the Jan. 20 Guest Commentary,  
"Local Military Families Speak Out Against War in Iraq." I honor these  
families' courage in the face of a situation that has become surreal,  
if not insane.

A week ago, another American soldier was killed, this time atop an MRAP  
(Mine-Resistant, Ambush-Protected) vehicle. Crew members were injured,  
and the vehicle was destroyed by a roadside bomb it was constructed to  
resist. There are 1,500 of these vehicles costing $500,000 to $1  
million and the Pentagon is working to get 15,000 more at a cost of  
$22.4 billion.

While we complain about driving to work in the cold and snow, Iraqis  
had their first snow recently in 100 years. People in Baghdad are  
freezing and dying because of a lack of heat in their homes – no  
insulation and no kerosene available. According to one local  
American-Iraqi who has been a citizen here for 25 years, infrastructure  
is destroyed and there is either no power in many places or only for  
one or two hours a day in some. Prices of all commodities are  
skyrocketing.

Most Iraqis believe the U.S. military is supporting the sectarian  
violence, and they want us to leave. In spite of the surge, the daily  
bombings and killings continue.

Last week during his Middle East tour, President Bush was reported to  
have "walked where Jesus walked." How long will people of conscience  
keep silent?

ANNETTE B. WILLIAMS

Champaign
  Find this article at:
   
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/opinions/letters/2008/01/25/ 
us_must_abandon_its_position_in_iraq
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