Letters to the editor

OPINION:

President no mainstream American

Our president blames Congress for inaction on the high price of gas (“Bush lays gas blame on Congress,” Wednesday, Page 1). While we motorists are very concerned at the sudden increase in gas prices, there was little evidence in the news that he was concerned. He had plenty of time to insist that Congress act and that the president fed them his ideas. The president is too insulated from the daily living of most U.S. citizens. He is a millionaire who has no personal concerns about making a living. He never fills his cars with gas. His Air Force One flights are paid for by us taxpayers and not out of his bank account. His aides try to get him out of town as much as possible to make life easier for them and he has plenty of speechwriters. What a tough job.

ANTHONY LUTZ

Vienna, Va.

Of Iran and honor

As Adm. James Lyons, former commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, puts it, “From the Carter administration forward to the current administration, we have always found excuses not to strike Iran, even when faced with undeniable proof” (“When it’s time to act with honor, Commentary, Thursday). The 1983 terrorist bombing of the American embassy in Beirut and the destruction later the same year of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut are two cases in point. More recently, Iran’s complicity in the deaths of hundreds of Americans in Iraq a fact substantiated in the recent Senate hearings featuring Gen. David H. Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker is further evidence that this terrorist state is up to no good.

As Americans commemorate the 25th anniversary of those brutal Iranian-backed attacks in Beirut, Iran must be held accountable. As Adm. Lyons rightly contends, “The restoration of our honor is long overdue.”

BRIAN STUCKEY

Denver

’The real thing’

In response to the letter to The Washington Times, “Why McCain Is Struggling” (Monday) and the idea that we should vote for “the real thing in either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama,” it appears that the author neglects to point out or understand that America is in real danger. It is Sen. John McCain who is the real thing, based on my experience during the Cuban Missile Crisis, in Vietnam and during the Cold War. Some in the “senior leadership” who the letter alleges “do not like or trust” the Republican-candidate-to-be, also apparently fail to understand that America is in real danger.

LT. COL. DOMINIK GEORGE NARGELE

USMC (Ret.)

Arlington

Irish-American ties

Fine Gael spokeswoman Lucinda Creighton’s recent claim that the United States actively opposes European integration must have caused American readers as much bemusement and astonishment as it did me (“Irish party says U.S. ’opposed to EU integration,’ ” Web, Foreign, Wednesday).

Miss Creighton who represents Ireland’s largest opposition party is confused. She first suggests that the United States has resented EU integration if this would serve as a counterbalance to American power. She then conflates the issue by making personalized attacks on the business interests of Declan Ganley, the multimillionaire chairman of the advocacy group Libertas. She attacks Mr. Ganley for his anti-treaty stance, and yet her own agenda-driven pro-treaty campaign is apparent to all of us over here.

Miss Creighton’s views, to which she undoubtedly is entitled, indeed must be a source of grievous embarrassment, not to mention confusion, to both Enda Kenny, the present leader of Fine Gael, and former Prime Minister John Bruton. When asked for comment, not even Mr. Bruton would offer any. Mr. Kenny for a long time has affirmed the well-established bond between our two countries. After all, he pressed America for support of Ireland’s immigration bill in 2006. Prime Minister Bertie Ahern reinforced that same friendship in his Washington address this week.

It is my understanding that the proposed Lisbon Treaty referendum has been welcomed by the Irish Business Employers Confederation (IBEC) as being an assurance to the United States that the European Union is continuing to stabilize its affairs. IBEC, of course, believes this will continue to render Ireland an attractive location for American investment.

I believe the comments by Miss Creighton, particularly in relation to the American perception of the treaty, were ill-founded, poorly timed and potentially very damaging to Ireland as we continue to be dependent on multinational investment here.

FLORENCE CRAVEN

Founder

Priorities Party

Maynooth, Ireland

Bikers are motorists, too

As a motorcyclist myself, I can appreciate the efforts made by Reps. Michael Burgess and Gabrielle Giffords mentioned in “Make rrrroom for motorcycle safety” (Commentary, Thursday). Some of the basic tenets of awareness I have learned from fellow riders, is to always ride as if you are invisible, and never take for granted the supposed actions of any other vehicle.

Too often four-wheeled vehicles are piloted by someone driving distracted, usually by a cell phone, but also by screaming kids, radios, or a tough days event playing through their mind. Motorcycling is a growing sport/hobby, and as a part of Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, those who drive four-wheelers need to be educated as to our presence, our right to ride our motorcycles on public roads unmolested, and the fact that their inattention can cause severe injury or death to someone quite easily, even if there is not an impact on their vehicle.

Riding on a motorcycle is completely different than a car, which isolates people from the surrounding environment. That isolation makes a driver of a four-wheeled vehicle more apt to miss a two-wheeler. Everyone needs to be educated about motorcycles, whether they ride on two, or four.

NORMAN HENDRICKSON

Bowie

America is not ’a nation at war’

I must take issue with the testimony of CIA Director Michael Hayden (“Hayden warns of Russian unrest,” Page 1, Thursday). Mr. Hayden is dutifully carrying out his responsibilities as a lackey for the Bush administration instead of fulfilling his duty of supplying the administration with unbiased intelligence.

When he states, “The United States believes it is a nation at war a war that is global in scope, and requires, as a precondition for winning, that we take the fight to the enemy, wherever he may be,” he is merely espousing White House policy, not providing new insights based on intelligence. As such, he becomes merely another lackey. This opinion does not represent the views of the American public and certainly not the opinion of this constitutional conservative.

No, Mr. Hayden, the U.S. public does not believe it is in a war, as you state. The Constitution, fortunately, prevents the president from waging such a war, which you would understand if you had any familiarity with such a document. Too many constitutional conservatives would disagree thoroughly with you on your point.

My advice for Mr. Hayden is to stick to the assigned mission of providing unbiased intelligence to the president and avoid opinions supporting the policies of the various administrations under which he may serve.

JOHN D.S. MUHLENBERG

Vienna