Unfettered Letters

Syria’s nuclear reactor

A nuclear reactor in Syria? Built with the help of the North Koreans? (4/25, A-1, “U.S. asserts N. Korean link to Syrian reactor.”)

Problem is that our government has lied to us so many times over the past eight years — WMDs, the economy, Social Security, “free trade,” privacy, security —that it makes it hard to believe anything it says now.

The more that someone cries wolf, the harder it is to get people to listen.

Donald Skinner
Leawood

Remember the Pueblo

Jan. 23 was the 40th anniversary of the capture of the USS Pueblo (AGER-2) by the North Koreans. This also was the first surrender of a U.S. Naval vessel during peacetime in 150 years. One crewman was killed in the unprovoked attack, and 82 officers and enlisted were imprisoned for about 11 months.

As in years past, Americans and the media have forgotten about this unfortunate Cold War event. The Koreans tortured the crew and coerced confessions out of them. They still hold the Pueblo as a tourist attraction. We should never forget this.

With all the recent problems of communist Korea developing nuclear capability, and our negotiations to stop that, what a great opportunity to also demand the return of the Pueblo. In my opinion, it should be a keystone demand in any future economic deal or trade arrangements between this country and the free world.

Dave West
Crew member, USS BANNER (AGER-1), 1967-69
Sugar Creek

U.S. nuclear plans

With so much U.S. focus on North Korea and Iran’s nuclear weapons technology, it is disturbing that the U.S. government has announced its development of Complex 2030.

This “bombplex” — a project of the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration — will consist of a new breed of more “useable” nuclear weapons.

This is clearly hypocritical, but more important it is a violation of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which was supposed to embark us on a road to full disarmament of our nuclear arsenal.

Another disturbing fact is that the Kansas City plant at 95th and Troost, which is operated by Honeywell, has a contract with the government to produce 85 percent of all the components that constitute a nuclear weapon (according to 2002 testimony by Honeywell’s president before a House Armed Services subcommittee).

The plant is experiencing its heaviest workload in two decades, which is remarkable when one considers that 20 years ago was the height of the Cold War buildup under President Reagan.

This national and local scenario should send red flags that the U.S. government is in the process of coordinating another nuclear arms race for the 21st century. When will this nuclear madness end?

Donna Constantineau
Kansas City, Kan.

North Korea

U.S. foreign policy

North Korea just tested another nuclear weapon. The reason that was given: Korea’s fear of U.S. aggression

This is another consequence of having an administration that would rather threaten than talk; that would rather attack than negotiate; that would rather have the world fear us than respect us.

Is there any wonder why so many Americans want this corrupt, inept government changed? It’s time that those with eyes to see and ears to hear to stand up and say “no more” to this administration and this Congress.

Kevin Fewell
Kansas City

Sheds light on Iraq

North Korea’s tes of a nuclear device brings into sharp contrast the debate over the Iraq war. Administrations of both parties have tried to negotiate, sanction and use international peer pressure to stop North Korea’s WMD development. We know the result.

We also know Saddam Hussein, who had far more monetary resources than Kim Jong Il, will not develop nuclear weapons.

The final resolution in Iraq is still unknown. The result of doing little and wishing for the best with North Korea is now well-documented.

David Small
Olathe

Nuclear test

Why did North Korea test nuclear weapons? Not because they’re afraid of us. It’s because they want to sell them to the highest bidder. The more economic pressure we put on them, the more likely they are to sell them, especially to a terrorist group that wants to attack us.

John Aker
Kansas City

‘Axis of evil’

The cartoon by Michael Ramirez (7/28) implies that President Bush has gotten the last laugh regarding his use of the expression “axis of evil.”

The first panel shows lots of ha-ha-ha’s aimed at Bush in 2002 when he used the phrase, in his State of the Union speech, to describe Iran, Iraq and North Korea. The second panel shows Bush in 2006, standing alone, saying, “Ha!”

Actually, no one laughed at the time, but people pointed out how such a characterization might be reckless and unwise.

So who has won this dispute? At the time of the speech, Iraq was no danger to this country, Iran was held in check by its enemy Iraq, and North Korea was virtually absent from the world stage.

Then we invaded Iraq, disabling it from threatening Iran. North Korea, seeing what we did to Iraq, resumed a bellicose posture with actions to match, and is now a huge threat. Finally Iran, freed from its fear of Iraq, has turned into a real threat, too.

Gee, Mr. President, you win. Nice work.

Joan Hancock
Raytown

Don’t look to China

Regarding your editorial “Punish North Korean actions” (7/6): Seeking China’s assistance in taming North Korea’s ambition, in our opinion, is like seeking help from the devil.

Without Beijing’s no-matter-what support, Kim Jong Il’s totalitarian regime would have long been gone.

Finding the right helping hand is the true cure. In the case of punishing North Korea, it definitely is not China.

Ben Shao
Director, press division
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago

North Korea

Holiday provided contrast

Independence Day 2006 provided us quite a contrast regarding the United States and North Korea.

We, the leaders of the free world, celebrated the anniversary of our independence by attending barbecues, parades and fireworks displays. We also sent the space shuttle back into space. Makes me proud to be an American.

Meanwhile, North Korea, whose people are starving because their leader would rather spend money on expensive fireworks, fired off six of his overpriced bottle rockets, though the grand finale was a dud.

Chris Harper
Oak Grove

Why at war with Iraq?

I wish one of the administration's mouthpieces could explain why when North Korea, which we know to have nuclear weapons, fires multiple missiles in our direction, we do nothing but protest. Yet a few years ago, we invaded the nation of Iraq when it no longer had WMDs, much less any nuclear weapons or long-range missiles. What are we doing anyway?

Rick Martin
Lee's Summit