Letters to the Editor - The Meridian Star

Thursday, April 03, 2003

Contents

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Meridian Star welcomes letters from its readers. Letters may be mailed, faxed to 1-601-485-1275 or submitted online. Letters should be of general local interest and not exceed 300 words. They must bear the writer's name, address and signature, as well as a telephone number where the writer can be reached. All letters are subject to editing. Address letters to:

Letters to the Editor
The Meridian Star
P.O. Box 1591
Meridian, MS.
39302

Wednesday, April 2, 2003

Ziemba columns always insightful

To the editor:

We’re in a period when many are protesting the war and wondering why we are doing this thing. They need to remember that it wouldn’t have come to this had it not been for the 9/11/01 attack. We cannot allow ourselves to be sitting targets. We’re dealing with people who don’t respond to reasoning.

I saved and have now shared with others Craig Ziemba’s article which appeared in the Feb. 2, 2003,

Opinions section of The Meridian Star, “Give war a chance.” That and other things he’s written can be read again at your Web site, meridianstar.com, under Archives. I look forward to reading his insightful, common sense articles on the topics that affect us in one way or another. He is military, so he has insight from a position that most of us do not. Besides that, he’s obviously a very intelligent young man.

Thank you for continuing to publish his missives, which you frequently do. If he isn’t being compensated for his journalistic efforts, I think he should be. In this writer’s opinion, he’s good. Thanks for sharing your insight, Craig.

Carolyn Starnes

Meridian

Another way to deal with troubled hearts

To the editor:

I was much impressed with the real sense of community and caring as many concerned citizens gathered together at Northeast High School to counsel with many upset teen-agers in the aftermath of the recent suicide. I have only been here in the Meridian area just less than a year and I have seen some of the very best of what Lauderdale County has to offer.

Counselors and clergy were poised to come to the aid of a number of troubled hearts and many young people found comfort and strength with the help of some unselfish people.

God bless you all.

I suggest that we enlist the aid of these same people in a more ongoing way by establishing a volunteer school chaplaincy corp. A student-initiated counseling program using volunteer clergy with counseling training would be a great asset to our community and may be able to diffuse some serious problems that could help prevent another occurrence like the one we have recently experienced.

Our prayers go out to the family who have lost this precious young man.

If you are interested in getting involved with a program like this, give me a call at 485-7708.

Chaplain Dennis Marks

Good News Jail & Prison Ministry of Lauderdale County

Meridian

The ‘real’ war is against Bush

To the editor:

Recent letters to the editor have lambasted the media for their “anti-American” coverage of the war. Actually, the national news media has covered the war in an outstanding manner in terms of attaining the final goal of the national liberal forces back home. It must be remembered that to this recently defeated and embittered national faction, with its liberal press corps strategically embedded among unsuspecting fighting men, the Iraqi War and the extent of its failure constitutes hopefully another successful battle in the “real” war; the war against President Bush.

Armond “Si” Simmons

Pell City, Ala.

Kaptur’s criticism over the line

To the editor:

I’m outraged by Ohio Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur’s comparison of terrorist Osama bin Laden to our Founding Father, George Washington.

I agree with Paul Begala when he said on CNN’s Crossfire, “Disgraceful. Absolutely disgraceful. You were right to call her on it and I just — I can’t defend it. I never will — the notion that anybody could compare this murderer to our Founding Fathers is insane.”

Shame on you, Marcy Kaptur.

Ricky Nelson

Summit

186th: Musgrove,
Lipscomb running
damage control

To the editor:
The only requirement in order for evil and
wickedness to prevail and prosper, is that good men of honor, integrity and high moral convictions stand idly by and do nothing.
Ten years ago next month, I was personally a victim of injustice under the same group of men who are under investigation in the Mississippi Air National Guard today. I have personally witnessed a multitude of airmen fall in the ranks from contrived charges and unfair personnel practices by these men.
I know personally that Jody Bryant went to bat for me and numerous other airmen, both enlisted and officer, who had been unjustly treated through the years in the 186th Air Refueling Wing.
Among the many defects in the Mississippi Guard are the hiring practices and promotions. These events have been held as gratuities for members of the family, the “good ol’ boy” system, thus enduring loyalty regardless of circumstance. Anyone who says they were not aware of the problems within the unit, either walked around with blinders over their eyes and ears because the situation did not affect them or they are outright liars.
In my 25-year tenure at the 186th ARW, this unit operated under its own guidelines and edicts, sometimes with blatant disregard and disdain for USAF regulations, Air and Ground Safety Regulations, compliance with USAF Technical Orders (General Standing Orders), OSHA and EPA standards, and, finally, employee rights as outlined by technician personnel office regulations/directives.
Most commanders in positions of authority have maintained control over the internal functions and secrecy through, fear, coercion, intimidation and threat of termination of both military and civilian positions for members who were perceived to buck the system.
I fully support and add validity to the actions of Col. Joe H. Bryant Jr., as he is trying to disseminate the truth in the court of public appeal to dispel the darkness that covers the Mississippi Air Guard with deceit, blatant disregard for ethics and dastardly deeds. The USAF Inspector General’s Report is equal to a Supreme Court decision. These are not allegations. These are 16 substantiated charges; in fact more than half of the remaining 26 charges are validated as improper activities in the report for follow on action.
Where is that action?
I wholeheartedly offer my aid to Col. Bryant, the USAF Inspector General, Office of Special Investigation and any other government agency seeking the truth within the Mississippi Air National Guard.
I pray that Maj. Gen. James Lipscomb will execute full authority within the applicable statues pertaining to charges punishable by the Uniform Code of Military Justice and the Civilian Criminal Justice System for all parties involved, not just the few we have seen so far. Should an airman have committed these acts, believe me he or she would be serving time at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., not honorably discharged with a full retirement.
Is there a higher set of standards held for the common soldier than for the commanders of the core? At this juncture it appears the adjutant general and Gov. Musgrove are more concerned in running damage control, covering up the embarrassing situation, than trying to get to the root of the problem. I suggest we remember these actions in November when, we, the public, can reflect our opinion in our right to vote.

TSgt. William R. Hassenfratz
MSANG/RET/REMOVED
Meridian

186th: Distressed by Lipscomb’s
lack of action

To the editor,
Maj. Gen. James Lipscomb is not only the highest ranking military member in the Mississippi National Guard, but more importantly its commanding general. He is expected to be honest, intelligent, smart, and decisive. He is qualified to lead others into combat.
I do not personally know the general, but I am distressed by his inaction and indecisiveness in restoring the integrity to the Air National Guard component under his command. There are many more proven integrity problems in the ANG than the 16 presented to the public thus far.
The summary of allegations lists 26 violations of Mississippi State Code, US Title 10, National Guard Regulations, the Joint Ethics Regulation, Air Force Instructions, and Department of Defense Directives. Many more of the original 42 allegations were proven to be true, but were “unsubstantiated” because they could not be directly linked to the accused. For example, Col. Bryant was dismissed with a forged document, but it could not be proven who forged it.
This is corruption at the headquarters (State) level, not in Meridian. Many documents were misreported for years, but yet again could not be tied to those accused.
Four officers have received pay they were not eligible for, all documented in several IG complaints over the years. As taxpayer money, it must be returned. The active duty Air Force recommended the removal of several officers, yet they are still in place.
The bottom line is that Maj. Gen. Lipscomb, like his predecessors, has been aware of these types of problems for years. To his credit, he asked the active duty to investigate. Now that it’s back in his hands, however, he appears more interested in minimizing the damage than fixing a corrupt system.
As a commanding general, can you imagine a George Patton, Robert E. Lee or Tommy Franks having to be pushed into cleaning up a corrupt leadership system under his command? I, for one, cannot.
I believe they would be more interested in the integrity of their command and the welfare of those who are right now risking their lives for their nation, rather than their corrupt leadership team.

Lt. Stuart Kenney
Former member, 186th
Marietta, Ga.