Unfettered Letters

Practically writes itself

We have the Paul Morrison sex scandal, Mayor Funkhouser’s feuds with almost everyone in city government and Clay Chastain’s obsession with mass transit.

We have the baseball/steroid revelations and stand-up “debates” by political comedians from both sides of the aisle who aspire to be our next leader.

And let’s not overlook the latest antics of our commander in chief and his administration.

The writers union ought to be worried. They can’t write stuff this good!

Tom Bryant
Olathe

News is disturbing

There are days when the state of the world is greatly disturbing to me. As I write this, it is one of those days.

We were led into a war that I still don’t know the real reason for. Who is benefiting? Iraq is more dangerous than ever before, and our sons and daughters are dying by the hundreds.

We elect our leaders by voting for whoever can come up with the best smear campaign. How sad.

Recently a precious baby girl’s life was ended, allegedly by the abusive hand of a Kansas City police officer, an authority figure whom both of the child’s parents had trusted to care for her.

If all of this gets you down, cheer up. Jared Allen of the Chiefs, who in recent months has received two DUIs, threw a party Sunday at the Peanut, a bar in Shawnee, after the game. I wonder whether he invited any MADD members.

Gena L. Kellae
Raytown

The Foley fumble

I would hope the Democrats would not be like the Chiefs. Why? It’s this incident with Mark Foley. The Democrats are scoring a lot of points on it. But what is it really? It’s a fumble.

In football, a fumble allows your team to grab the ball and switch to offense. You might even score a touchdown. But it’s rare a fumble alone will win a game, and one fumble definitely not win you the playoffs. To win, you must have a powerful offense and score points yourself.

So the Democrats must set forth policies and programs on their own in order to win elections, not just wait for another Republican fumble because probably they will soon have a fumble of their own. Then it’s back to being on defense full time.

Brad Hansen
Overland Park

Ports deal

If you think all black people are criminals and can't be trusted, you are A) brilliant, B) a bigot.

If you think all Arabs are criminals and can't be trusted, you are A) brilliant, B) a bigot.

The ports deal appears to be a good one involving allies of the United States. If Congress was surprised by it, it's because it didn't do its job. It was announced last October and investigated under rules set by Congress to ensure confidentiality.

There were 64 similar investigations conducted last year to approve foreign nations investing in the U.S. economy. Every investigative agency declared this a good deal with good people.

But here come the bigots who claim Arabs are criminals and can't be trusted. We are trying to strengthen ties with the Arab world. Economic ties stop wars. Bigots see only that Arab equals bad guy. That view is ignorant and bigoted.

George Thomas
Stanley

After reading columns from E. Thomas McClanahan (2/26) and Mary Sanchez (2/28) supporting the Dubai Ports World deal, I wonder whether it is not time for a terrorism handbook.

Since 9/11, the Republican Party and conservative columnists have been preaching to us to be very, very afraid. There is no sacrifice too big in fighting terrorism.

We have been told we are soft on terrorism if we don't want our phones tapped and don't support our rights being taken away through the Patriot Act. But we are xenophobic isolationists if we think turning our ports over to the same people who helped the 9/11 terrorists is bad for our country.

I thank it's time for a handbook so we will all know when we are good Americans

Greg King
Kansas City

Ports deal

I don't quite get it. Why can't we manage our own ports? A country that can put a man on the moon does not have the ability to manage its own ports?

There is evidently big money in port management. The Dubai Ports World deal was worth $7 billion. Why don't we have some courses at a few large universities on port management?

Why ask for security problems when the answer could be right here in our own back yard?

Carl Galler
Leawood

Ports deal

Let us not distort the issue concerning the foreign control of American ports. The security of our ports has long been recognized as fundamental to our security but has been consistently neglected.

There is no room to doubt that after 9/11, no foreign government or agency or entity should ever be permitted to operate any part of any American port. That is a fundamental requirement of our national security.

Obviously we should not discriminate against Arabs. There are terrorists in many areas of the world. Foreign companies' operation of all U.S. ports should be re-examined to determine whether those companies are in practical fact extensions of hostile interests or foreign governments.

This should have been done long ago for all U.S. ports.

Politics should never be permitted to trump our national security interests.

Lloyd Ryan
Karin Ryan
Merriam

Look at ports deal

I think it would be beneficial if everyone, The Star included, would more precisely comment on the proposed sale of the leases at six U.S. ports to Dubai Ports World.

“More review needed” (2/23 editorial) states that President Bush wants to approve a deal “that would leave a state-owned company in a tiny Persian Gulf emirate running six large U.S. seaports.”

Does the editorial writer not know that the Port of New York/New Jersey is “run” by the Port Authority — not by any terminal lessee?

Dubai Ports World will take over the leases of some terminals at the Port of New York/New Jersey. It will not “run” this port, nor the Port of Baltimore, nor the Port of Philadelphia, etc. There are several terminals in most large ports. Dubai Ports World will take its place alongside other lessees, all under the control of the port authorities (as well as the security control of the U.S. Coast Guard and Homeland Security Department).

Why not get the facts straight and do a real public service? One can see by the comments in Voices that this misconception is shared by some Star readers.

James A. Burr
Overland Park

Are we, the United States of America, not smart enough and big enough to operate, maintain, manage and protect our own ports?

This great nation must be the laughingstock of the Arab world. That is an embarrassment.

I suggest that we, the U.S. of A, at once cancel all agreements of any sort regarding our ports and return any monies paid up front by others for use, access, operation, etc.

We should then take charge and put our citizens to doing the work at all levels.

I have voted Republican in every election starting in the first election in the 1940s. But if this administration proceeds with this mess, it may very well destroy the party — just what the opposition at home and abroad wants.

John P. Thiessen
Leawood

It’s business

The current hubbub over the Dubai Ports World acquisition of British-owned Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. is a lot of empty cargo.

As a frequent traveler to Dubai as a marketing consultant, I am very aware of the general management, organizational and operational philosophies of major companies in the United Arab Emirates.

The vast majority companies I worked with there were managed by American and British senior executives, closely followed by executives from Western Europe, Australia and South Africa. In fact, we used to joke about the hierarchy of management nationality in the largest and most successful companies. It was often a point of pride for the Emirati business houses to boast about their American or British chief executives.

I would be very surprised if the management teams at any of these ports were led by an Emirati national. There might not even be major changes from existing management teams.

If you’re a successful Arab company (like Dubai Ports) from a supportive Arab country (like the U.A.E.), the United States is not open for business.

That’s not the message we want to send to the Arab world’s business community.

Richard F. Thomas Jr.
Kansas City

Ports deal

I am appalled, worried and severely disappointed in our government’s “blessing” on the sale of the British firm that manages six of our major ports to Dubai Ports World. What are we thinking? According to your front-page (2/21), “lawmakers of both (U.S. political) parties say they are worried about terrorist infiltration.” Duh! Who wouldn’t be?

What kind of security checks will put in place to make certain that once again Americans will not welcome terrorists into our country with open arms and later find them attacking our citizens in the worst possible way?

Wake up, Washington, before it is too late. I am beginning to think that no one in the government should be re-elected. We need to start over from the top down.

Kay Salter
Prairie Village

Since 9-11, we, as citizens of the United States, have had to go through a lot of changes in how we travel, renew documents, i.e. drivers licences, and other things in the name of protecting ourselves. What I don’t understand is why the man who tells us to be aware of things, to keep us safe, would let a foreign, state-owned company control our ports. It is like hiring the fox to protect the hen house.

Allen Tucker
Riverside

Cheney hunting accident

Six hunters are hunting quail on a hedge row. I am in the middle of three on the right side.

A covey gets up. I have my gun up ready to shoot as they break cover.

Suddenly the man on my left jumps in front of my gun just as birds break cover in front of me. Did I pull the trigger? No. I was lucky and had good reflexes.

That was 40 years ago. I’m not sure I could do that today.

I think many, many hunters have a similar story to tell.

What happened to Dick Cheney could have happened to me and the guy who jumped in front of my gun. It would have been an accident then and is today.

Unfortunate, of course. Regrettable, of course. But an accident. Can the media knock it off already?

Bob Lager
Fairway

The Star quotes Dick Cheney as saying, “I’m the guy who pulled the trigger” (2/16, A-1).

Is this the beginning of a trend? Might we expect Cheney to say, “Saddam did not have WMDs” or “Iraq had no nukes”?

Never mind — probably not.

Scott Gregory
Roeland Park

If Dick Cheney runs for president in 2008, I bet Dan Quayle won’t agree to be his running-mate.

Lorie Stewart
Kansas City