Re-open road lanes as soon as possible
No one disputes that the first priority of law enforcement and emergency rescue teams after a highway accident should be to evacuate the injured as quickly as possible. But in 50 years as a driver here, it does not seem they recognize the second priority should be to reopen as many lanes as possible, as soon as possible, so that thousands of motorists can get to their jobs, schools, home, etc. without spending hours in gridlock.
BOB PERSONS, ATLANTA
Budget should help needy more
I was pleased that President Barack Obama’s budget proposals, include some areas where he could work with Congress to meet the needs of the nation. But I’m very disappointed that the president is trying to find common ground by increasing the Pentagon budget at the expense of other programs vital to our country. The Pentagon wastes more money in a year than many other cabinet agencies have to spend. Many families are still having a hard time bouncing back from the recession. His budget is a proposal. Congress needs to stop throwing good money after bad and look at ways to significantly reduce the Pentagon budget so we can afford imperative programs such as job creation, education, infrastructure, and the environment.
DAVID KALLECHEY, ATLANTA
Willfully wrongheaded conclusions
Mona Charen’s diatribe (“Brian Williams’ borrowed valor not really surprising,” Opinion, Feb. 9) is so wrong and so biased. She was a child during the Vietnam war. She vilifies John Kerry when he was defending our troops (His comment about “the last person to die” hit home to many of our generation). He was protesting our leadership – not the troops – and Mona chooses to read only the Spiro Agnew version of the “Silent Majority”. Vietnam was stopped because the youth of America wanted us to live up to our creed. Our leaders were wrong then, and they were wrong when they had our troops invade Iraq. Mona can’t see beyond the Far Right’s talking points. And I suppose Brian Williams, in her mind, purposefully lied to further some left-wing hippie cause. Disgusting.
LARRY E. CARVER, ATLANTA
War is no trifling matter
In the “troubles” with ISIS, it seems that politicians are eager to pledge that they are against putting “boots on the ground” in that conflict. But they are oddly eager to commit butts in the air! Remember in Vietnam it was the “butts in the air” that wound up in the Hanoi Hilton. As brutal as the North Vietnamese were with their prisoners, I don’t believe they ever beheaded one or set one on fire! Say a prayer for our aviators and for our leaders that they will get their act together. We should learn from history: do not commit one American to a battle not fought before declaring war with our entire country committed. The war should be fought with one rule of engagement: Kill the enemy — and with one goal: Unconditional surrender of the enemy. We then stay until they are no longer a threat. We haven’t done this since WWII and you have seen the results.
FRED CRIGLER, ROSWELL
Honoring valor and service
Thank you for publishing (“The liberator’s widow,” Personal Journeys, Feb. 1). It’s beautiful and heart-warming. I had three uncles in WWII. They all returned home, but never spoke of their experiences, though one of them had nearly lost his life. Several years ago, I took a group trip to France. We visited the D-Day beaches. At Omaha Beach, we saw where our Rangers climbed the cliffs, under tremendous fire, to finally overcome and win that battle and viewed their memorial which celebrates their sacrifice. Following that experience, we went to the American cemetery. There I had the most spiritual experience that I’ve ever had. The hair on the back of my neck literally felt like it was standing up! It was like standing on holy ground. One could certainly feel that a great sacrifice had been made by the multitude buried there.
MAXINE MCQUAIG, DUNWOODY
