To the editor:
If intervention is the only way, then I suggest that it should be as a Special-Ops mission. These folks are trained to speak the language and earn the respect of the locals while assisting them with their own self-defense in a covert style. I worked some missions with these men many years ago. They were successful until the regular conventional types interfered. The officer corps of our armed forces do not use these special soldiers usually because of petty jealous turf battles.
Helping the locals win their own freedom and hope for democracy while changing the deep hate they have for us. That deep-down hatred is what we have to change, because we cannot defend ourselves against people willing to kill themselves for their cause.
Wars are messy and require sacrifice from some very brave warriors who have no say about our public policy. We are hated for many reasons. One of those reasons is because we will support a government for their resources while they suppress their own citizens if they protest. There are many policies by our state department that create problems that are hard to predict for.
These people that hate us have the same dreams that we do, but they are enslaved and mistreated by their own government, where we have had a hands-off policy. A few simple items such as shelter, food, employment, and water might make a big difference.
There is no quick and easy solution. We are a good and just people. We need to apply that goodness for positive results. We have some recent successes with NATO. The United Nations has had some bad failures and just watched while millions have perished in the past.
If we do this in Iraq, let’s do it smart. Iraq, Iran, and Saudi Arabia need to give their citizens some hope and move towards self-government. If we want a secure and safe future, we should define exactly what our self-interests are and raise the hopes and dreams of desperate people that hate us so much.
Remember Veterans Day.
CPO Gordon Draper
USN Ret
To the editor:
As an alumnus of USM I am urging the USM community to support Sally Vamvakias in Senate District 27 and Robin Lambert in Senate District 28.
The record will show that both Sally and Robin carry on the late Joel Abromson’s tradition of common sense bipartisan leadership. While they are both Republicans, no one could ever accuse them of being ideologues. Both are moderate and would vote in support of their constituents before their party.
With a fiscal shortfall approaching $1 billion and an economy at risk, both Sally Vamvakias and Robin Lambert are ready to take on the tough challenges facing state government. They will work to find ways to balance the budget without raising taxes.
Please vote on Election Day, and please strongly consider these two qualified candidates.
Matt Mower
Alumnus
Augusta, ME
To the editor:
In regards to Peter Dugre’s (really good, really comprehensive) article in The Free Press back on the 14th of Oct., I would like to come out as a student, and a student senator, who is deeply concerned that the University of Maine seems to be overstepping its bounds.
Keeping in mind that the Student Conduct Code at UMaine Orono is the same code that we are required to abide by here at USM, I feel that such actions are a threat to students’ rights.
Keeping in mind also that I do not condone rape or violence as socially acceptable actions, my concern with the nature of these charges is simply that there is not enough evidence to convict the two students involved of any criminal activity. I do not feel that it is the place of the University to sanction students based on hearsay; some evidence should be required to “convict” students accused of such heinous acts.
Students who are sanctioned due to such egregious accusations are not only kicked out of school for a minimum of five years, but a letter explaining the reasoning as to why is attached to their transcripts (USM Navigator, 02-03 edition, p.102). Such public shaming is incorrect in this matter, I feel, due to the lack of serious information that the University possesses.
The lawsuit that is certain to ensue will no doubt drain the UMaine system of more of the money that we as students pay into it. Such improper decisions costing us money should be re-examined.
Or should be properly decided in the first place.
In light of all of this, I would like to inform students that Steve Nelson, chair of USM’s own Conduct Code Committee, will be a guest at the Senate meeting on November 8th at 11 Baxter Blvd. The meeting starts at 9 a.m.
Joshua Dolby
senior
philosophy major