Open Forum

I was intrigued by a recent letter writer's response to Senator Kerry's testimony when he returned from Vietnam. I too heard all those reports of atrocities while I was there and so did nearly everyone else that was there. Some may not remember them for one reason or another. Either they were too stoned to register or they were too drunk to care. There is a reason that there are so many post traumatic stress cases still creating problems for GIs from that war. Things that you see, things that you know, things that you did, and things that you didn't do, can all cause stress. Some of the things we heard were in the first person, but we didn't know the person, they were just another GI. Others were friends that came back from a mission and told what they observed. Everyone wanted to come back, you listened but you didn't do anything which would keep you in country, no one was that stupid. That reader didn't sound like he spent any time in country, people like him in country got fragged. If you didn't like what you saw you could complain when you got back. While in country you did your job and either got stoned or drunk, it got you by until you left. Unless you were too drunk to catch your plane. I left the last of my cash with a friend that had missed his last three flights because he was too drunk to get to the plane.

Jesse H. Nix

Emily

A push for Bush

President George Walker Bush has a very positive attitude; he is also an extraordinary leader. He can be quite flexible when needed.

Keith Mayhood

Brainerd

Dan Rather's 'false' documents

I'm no fan of big TV, but if CBS and Dan Rather are to be ostracized for their reporting on "false" documents that were given to them then what about a president that takes his country to war over "false" information given to him?

Some say Dan Rather should lose his job over this, then shouldn't George W. Bush lose his job too?

Gloria Papillon

Pine River

Police are not our babysitters

I spent an evening with the Brainerd Police Department. It was a chance to see an inside view of how the officers serve the Brainerd citizens. I was impressed with the teamwork and professional work of the officers. I realized the importance of the technology used by the dispatchers and law enforcement teams. We as a community need to give them a hand. Lets support these men and women out there fighting crime. Use all the necessary safety tips you can find at the local police station to protect yourself and your homes. Let's get informed. We need to take more responsibility for our children and other children we know. The police force should not be our baby-sitters. I saw their concern for the safety of the children and the citizens. Their job is anything but easy. Thanks for the ride Brainerd Police Department and the great learning experience.

Andrea Lipovetz

Brainerd

(Andrea Lipovetz is a candidate for an at-large post on the Brainerd City Council.)

What's the U.N. ever done?

President Bush's war policy detractors seem to have three main arguments: Bush lied, we unilaterally went in alone, and Saddam had no terrorist connections. First, Bush only repeated what the U.N. and other countries had reported, that Saddam had WMDs. If Bush lied, so did others including Kerry, who had access to the very same reports.

Going it alone, if appropriate, is commendable. Who else would do the heavy lifting? France? The U.N. threw 17 toothless resolutions at Saddam without results. If peace at any price people had their way it could not be 27 resolutions with Saddam still in charge. The U.N. oil-for-food program allowed Saddam to graft over $10 billion while UN bigwigs got in on the action.

The U.N. permitted Saddam to pick his own business partners and this was their scam: Saddam would underprice oil contracts and overpay his partners for supplies. Among his accomplices were Russian and French companies who would kickback big bucks to Saddam. This ensured French and Russian resistance to an American invasion that would end the lucrative swindle of the Iraqi people. Of course the U.N. overseers also profited, along with many of Saddam's more nefarious associates which leads to the last objection by Bush's critics.

Some of the groups profiting from the U.N. oil-for-food program either belonged to or were associated with Al Qaeda and their owners are on the U.N.'s Al Qaeda watchlist. That's like foxes watching henhouses. The U.N. condoned Saddam's treachery as long as UN wheels got their share of the loot. The U.N. is part of the problem, not the solution. They won't open up their oil-for-food disaster details and for good reason. What good thing has the UN ever accomplished that we should trust or rely on them?

Rod Thoe

Fort Ripley

He's no relative of mine

For the benefit of those who ask...Ed Shaw is not a relative of mine...by birth, marriage or any other means...I do not support him for city council.

Russ Shaw

Brainerd

They say power corrupts

The statement (Power corrupts -- isn't that what it's for?) is a truism some members of the council and paid staff have successfully done. Some have denied the use of the city council chambers for a candidate forum. Then in the same breath made a motion that all political activities on city property and in city buildings be denied. And again, trying to restrict public information from being released -- as required by state law.

What is the definition of public building, and public property use. Campaign signs are prohibited on boulevards and city property, yet candidates place signs. Are they above the law? If candidates cannot follow the ordinances adopted why should we elect them. Then the next question arises -- what about paid city staff that has been directed to enforce the ordinance! If they don't enforce the ordinances then either do away with the ordinance or the paid staff that is unwilling to enforce the ordinances. City of Brainerd employees manual, Section 21 Political Activity, states: Brainerd city government is non-partisan. You as an employee of the city may exercise the same political rights as any other citizen, except in instances where an employee's activity detracts from the public's perception of the City as a neutral and impartial entity. It is not permissible to identify oneself as a city employee by either appearance or declaration while expressing personal political opinions. Power and position should not be used by anyone. Watch "What's Bob About" on channel 8 Wednesdays at 7 p.m. for candidate's views.

Robert Fitzsimmons

(Fitzsimmons is a candidate for Ward 1, Brainerd City Council.)