OUR VIEWS

Robbing the public

Much of the attention in their case has focused on one of the schemes by which trio extracted money from publicly owned VisionLand amusement park and some private companies that had interests in pending state projects.

The park and others were persuaded to sponsor a race car driven by Butts' son, Craig. In return, VisionLand was supposed to get favorable consideration of an Interstate exit closer to the park than the one presently used by patrons — it didn't get built — and the companies were to get preferential treatment for their projects.

But the novelty of that transfer mechanism aside, the trio is guilty of practicing an old-fashioned form of corruption.

Butts, as transportation director under Gov. Fob James, had discretion to approve or reject highway projects and grants.

He used that discretion to award contracts to cities and others that had hired Moore's firm and Teague as consultants and to reject projects that didn't involve Moore and Teague. The 10 percent consultant fees would be routed back to Butts and his son.

Call them bribes or kickbacks, the payments were made with public money to which Butts, Moore and Teague have no legitimate claim. That makes the trio crooks, pure and simple.

A wise delay

However, showing that his administration can be a lot less doctrinaire than it sounds, the president has postponed three scheduled antimissile tracking tests for sound reasons.

Russia, the other signatory to the treaty, had been adamant that the treaty remain in force. But in Shanghai, President Vladimir Putin told Bush that he was open to renegotiating the treaty. Further, Putin so far has been surprisingly and gratifyingly supportive of the United States hunt for Osama bin Laden.

Hopes for reworking the ABM Treaty center on Putin's visit to the United States Nov. 12 for a summit. Two of the tests were to have been conducted today and the third on Nov. 14, while Putin was still in the country. The rocket and interceptor parts of the test would not have violated the treaty but the use of seaborne radar would have.

Putin would have been in the untenable position of renegotiating a treaty the United States had already violated and, moreover, was violating while he was a guest of the president's. Right now, Putin's cooperation and good will are more important than those tests.

The administration rather showily announced the postponement as a way of demonstrating the ABM Treaty really is standing in the way of an effective missile defense. The Pentagon has yet to establish that we do have a missile defense capability, let alone one that's ready to be deployed.

By far the best course would be for the United States and Russia to rework the ABM Treaty to allow for the testing and deployment of a missile defense clearly aimed at deterring rogue states — from whom Russia is at some risk, too — and not rendering Russia's own arsenal useless.

If the negotiations fail and the Bush administration truly feels that continuing to abide by the treaty puts the country in danger, rather than violating the treaty, it should give the required six months' notice to withdraw. But there seems no overriding reason that Bush and Putin, who have shown themselves to be practical and realistic, cannot reach agreement next month.

Stuff of nightmares

How huge? It ate dinosaurs, for one thing.

Paleontologists have turned up a fairly complete fossil of a crocodile 40 feet long, over 15 feet in girth, weighing 18,000 pounds, with 4-foot jaws. After examining the croc's meat-shredding teeth and calculating its nutrition requirements, one scientist pronounced the species, Sarcosuchus imperator, "amazingly nasty animals." Better yet, they ate other amazingly nasty animals.

The fossilized skeletons were found in a remote, unusually arid region of the Sahara Desert. But 110 million years ago, the area was a swampy jungle laced with broad and deep rivers.

Life-size models of megacroc will go on display in November at the National Geographic in Washington and the Los Angeles Natural History Museum and then tour the country. There's nothing like a giant primeval predator, the stuff of nightmares, to take your mind off your troubles.

YOUR VIEWS

Don't let terrorists divide America

The terrorists falsely claim that the attacks on the United States were due to the United States' relationship with moderate Arab countries, defending our allies during the Persian Gulf War, and the U.S. position in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Firstly, building relationships with other countries helps build a peaceful international community. Just what the terrorists don't want. Secondly, during the Persian Gulf War, by forming the international coalition, the U.S. was protecting the world's interests from a dangerous aggressor. Thirdly, the U.S. support of Israel must continue, because Israel is the only democracy in the region. Despite Israel's conflict with the Palestinians, Israeli Arabs are represented in parliament and have an equal vote.

These attacks were acts of terror with no justifiable reason or explanation. We must not let the words of terrorists divide the American people. The enemy is not our government and it is not any ethnic or religious group. Our enemies are terrorists and those who support them. During these difficult times, let us remember that we are all Americans, and our differences make us stronger.

Marc Bloomston
3525 Grand Rock Circle

Liberal benefit

Armond "Si" Simmons
104 Wadsworth Lane
Pell City

A challenge

Provide citations (chapter and verse) from the "Judeo-Christian" scriptures that clearly promote the following aspects of our constitutional government:

1. The idea that governments derive "their just powers from the consent of the governed" found in the Declaration of Independence.

2. A republican form of government.

3. Freedom of speech.

4. Freedom of religion (could be a toughie).

5. Freedom of assembly.

6. Right to bear arms (or have a militia if you prefer).

7. Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures.

8. Freedom from arbitrary seizure of property (remember the Canaanites?).

9. Freedom from self incrimination.

10. Right to counsel.

11. Right to a jury trial.

That's all you have to do. Good luck.

Larry Mundinger
741 Captains Drive
St. Augustine, Fla.

Does not appear

The word "god" does not appear in the Constitution nor in any of the amendments. The United States is ordained by "we the people," and not a deity. In the 1950s "In God We Trust" was added to the money and pledge by the Roman Catholic Church acting through the Knights of Columbus. Most of the founders were rational men who saw no reason for a personal god. The founders chose the motto "E Pluribus Unum."

The Moslems worship only one God, not three, and that God is the God of Abraham, the same God the Jews worship. In John 6:17 Jesus says one will follow him. Many believe Jesus was speaking of Mohammad who came to correct the errors of the Christians and the way they had and still corrupt the words of Jesus.

To say that any god is the only correct god is a personal opinion and is based on faith and not on fact. Many people in America have a god or gods, but the nation has no god.

Rev. Hank Shiver
P.O. Box 115
Talladega

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