I want to comment on Allen Shirley’s latest rant (Globe, May 27). His verbiage can’t disguise the plain truth. Shirley mentions people “conveniently forgetting” while he ignores the fact that George W. Bush engaged the United States in aggression against a foreign country for specious reasons; costing thousands of our young people’s lives, to “liberate” the Iraqis who hate us. How many of the families of our lost ones believe “Bush kept us safe for seven years”?
The monetary cost of this war has a great deal to do with the economic problems we endure today. Shirley conveniently forgets that Bush took over a budget surplus from President Clinton and quickly turned it into a huge deficit, fueled principally by this unnecessary war, still bleeding billions of dollars, years after it began. That “Mission Accomplished” short war has devastated our economy and is still not “accomplished.”
As to the “hypocrisy” Shirley mentions, how about those opposed to the war being accused of hating our service people who have to fight in it? My late husband was a retired serviceman who joined as an 18-year-old in 1943 and served our country for 26 years. His eldest son is a Purple Heart Marine veteran of Vietnam. Still, I hope for a time when we humans become civilized enough to settle our differences peacefully.
Shirley claims that a major percentage of Americans dislike President Obama. Perhaps in his next diatribe he will explain how Obama came to be elected by such a large majority of votes.
President Obama is an intelligent, well-spoken man doing his best to clear up the mess he inherited from the last administration. He is already regaining the respect and friendship of the other nations. Let’s give the man a chance. He couldn’t possibly do worse than the last guy!
Barbara A. Bullette
Joplin
Opinion
Voices: Couldn’t do worse
- Opinion
-
-
Our View: Santorum's Achilles' ear
Rick Santorum knocked everyone for a loop this week, not just with his victory in Missouri but with the landslide size of the thing.
-
Our View: Are school loans next 'debt bomb'?
The late American middle class struggled for decades to keep pace with an American dream slipping from its grasp.
-
Our View: A better way of limit terms
A Missouri House committee on Tuesday endorsed a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow lawmakers to serve 16 years in the state Legislature, either the House or the Senate.
-
Your View: Is it our fault?
When did coveting things and money take over character? What happened?
-
Your View: No way to run a school
All throughout the state of Missouri, you’ll hear much discussion about teacher tenure and the indefinite contracts that go along with that. Most — if not nearly all — jobs in the private and public sectors have no such career protection.
-
Your View: Prime suspects
If it’s too cool in the house, you can turn up the heat if you think you can afford it.
-
Our View: Worldwide concern
There is growing concern worldwide that Israel might launch an attack on Iranian nuclear plants.
-
Other Views: FAA deal up in air five years
The Federal Aviation Administration bill was delayed 23 times, but the agency finally has a law giving it $63 billion and full operating authority for the next four years.
-
Don Ray, columnist: Obama's pipeline excuse an election-year cop-out
On Jan. 18, President Barack Obama announced he was rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline project — a project that had its beginnings some 40 months ago (September 2008).
-
James Whitford, guest columnist: Broken people or broken system?
Are the people broken or is the system broken? If you walk into Watered Gardens, our rescue mission, it may seem the people are broken. But it’s a rescue mission. It just feels that way. And sometimes, it just looks that way.
- More Opinion Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
