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Tuesday's letters: Writer should look to his own mistakes

 
Published Dec. 11, 2017

Is anyone ever wrong anymore? | Dec. 8

Writer should look to own errors

In Mitch Daniels' article about people who have been wrong, he finishes with the statement that our lives would be greatly improved with more people saying, "I was wrong."

He missed the perfect opportunity to make that admission himself. In an interview with the New York Times published on Dec. 31, 2002, Daniels stated that earlier budget estimates of an Iraq war costing $100 billion to $200 billion were too high. He estimated the war would cost $50 billion to $60 billion. At the time, he was the director of the Office of Management and Budget under President George W. Bush.

In 2013, a study reported the hard costs of the war were $1.7 trillion, with another $490 billion owed to war veterans at the time. Long-term soft costs were estimated to be at least $3.7 trillion, but could get as high as $6 trillion over the years.

Another person who underestimated the war's outcome was Gen. Tommy Franks, who was in charge of the invasion. On April 16, 2003 — only weeks after the invasion of Iraq — he stated to the troops that the United States would be downsizing from the 140,000 troops who were part of the invasion to about 30,000 by September of that year. He made that statement because the Bush administration and most of the Army brass all believed that's how the war would go. The number of U.S. troops in Iraq reached its height in 2007 with over 170,000. And they stayed for 10 years, far longer than what Franks and others estimated.

For Daniels' astute estimate, he was rewarded with the governorship of Indiana, followed by becoming president of Purdue University.

He should have ended his article with a simple, "I was wrong about the Iraq War."

Steve Morrell, Bradenton

Christians are energized | Dec. 7, letter

Role of religion in America

The omission of a few words can make a big difference, as in, "President Barack Obama … said America is no longer a Christian nation." The letter writer prefaced that statement by declaring that the "Democratic Party has turned its back on Christians."

What President Obama really said on June 28, 2006, is this: "Whatever we once were, we are no longer a Christian nation –- at least, not just. We are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, and a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers." "Not just" is the key phrase.

The U.S. Constitution is a secular document, with no mention of Christianity or Jesus Christ. It forbids laws "respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," and Article VI prohibits religious tests for public office.

The Democratic Party has not turned its back on Christianity; the Democrats are respecting our forefathers' belief that separation of church and state is good practice.

Marylou Bride, Spring Hill

A third senator calls for Latvala to resign
Dec. 6

Latvala's honor, integrity

With sexual harassment at the forefront of discussion in workplaces throughout America, I am disturbed and disgusted by politicians, movie directors and corporate America's despicable behavior. When I worked as a young woman on Florida politics, sexual inappropriateness was rampant. I can think of senators, representatives, lobbyists and even staffers who acted inappropriately.

As the mother of two daughters, I hope the sexual harassment crisis is curbed and significant changes are enforced before our girls enter the workforce. I was fortunate early in my career to encounter a few men who protected young women trying to professionally advance in a "boys' club." Jack Latvala was my biggest protector. Working for him, I never once saw him act in a sexually inappropriate manner or make comments as such. These accusations go against the man I not only worked for, but thought of as a second Dad. Furthermore, he had zero tolerance for other men treating females inappropriately. I know my many female co-workers would say the same.

I completely support women coming forward, but there also has to be an opportunity to combat false allegations. The text messages presented in this case completely contradict the accuser.

Latvala has always been a man of honor and integrity. He may be a grumpy, gruff guy; he's made plenty of enemies not toeing the party line. But he is a good man who respects and protects Floridians, women and men alike.

I pray that the truth is exposed. Sexual harassment needs to end. But we also cannot use it as a vehicle to end careers when such accusations are false.

Katie Johnson-Smith, Roger, Ark.

Library to end fees for overdue books Jan. 1
Dec. 8

Keep the fees for late books

The decision to do away with fees for books that are returned late to the Hillsborough Public Library is shortsighted. It is not difficult to foresee huge negative consequences from this decision. There is no greater bargain to be had than obtaining a library card. It gives you access to an unlimited assortment of books and other valuable material for free. And all that's required is to abide by one simple rule: Return that which was lent to you. If not, you incur a very modest fine.

That modest fine has been enough of an incentive for me and millions of others to return borrowed books. On those occasions when I have incurred a fine, I have happily paid it, realizing what a bargain I got by receiving the book for free.

When the fine is eliminated, rest assured that the rate of books not being returned will skyrocket. Any money that is supposedly being saved will be offset by an order of magnitude from having to replace the unreturned books. And, more importantly, the patrons' experience will be diminished by the inevitable attrition of the book inventories.

Stu Raymond, Gulf Harbors