Time to begin the conversation on a military draft

Roanoke Times
Oct. 19, 2005

Time to begin the conversation on a military draft

As I read the editorial about current use of our National Guard and Reserve troops in Iraq ("Commander in chief deploys wrong troops," Oct. 12), I once more thought that our nation must reinstate the draft.

No, I'm not a pacifist, although I wish I were. I've been opposed to almost all the wars fought since the Vietnam War, but believe I would have fought in World War II.

You ask, a draft? I answer, yes, a draft with the option for our young people to serve either in the military or in an alternative service, such as working in the Veterans' Administration hospitals, Head Start, our national forests, etc.

I believe service to one's nation is extremely important for all our young people, as is done in other nations.

But when I mention the idea of a draft with alternative service, everyone assures me that this will not happen; the nation is opposed to it. I'm concerned that such a bill will come before Congress "in the night" as the Patriot Act did.

Let's be vigilant and work for a draft, if reinstated, that will offer both military and alternative service.

Phyllis T. Albritton

Blacksburg

Show Coach Beamer what he's worth

If you agree that $2 million per year is not adequate compensation for Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer -- even with possible bonuses -- then please join me in making a contribution to the Frank Beamer Fund.

I've made out a check of $100 to Frank Beamer and sent it recently to Tech President Charles Steger, anticipating his willingness to act as fund chairman.

Please join me in this worthy cause by sending a check of any amount to the "Frank Beamer Fund," Office of the President, Virginia Tech, Burruss Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061.

joseph germana

blacksburg

Nobel Peace Prize used to retaliate against U.S.

The Roanoke Times editorial of Oct. 8th ("Nobel Peace Prize and vindication") was singing the praises of Mohamed ElBaradei of the International Atomic Energy Agency for receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.

I have a few questions: Is this the same ElBaradei who didn't discover Saddam Hussein's nuclear weapons program before 1991? Is this the same ElBaradei who didn't discover that Iran and Libya had nuclear programs? Is this the same ElBaradei who completely missed the global nuclear bazaar run by Pakistan's A.Q. Khan who was finally discovered by U.S. intelligence?

When India and Pakistan were on the brink of nuclear war in 1998, it was the U.S. and Britain who stepped in. Where was ElBaradei and the IAEA? What about the North Korea threat? It wasn't the IAEA that stepped in. It was the American government.

I have a few more questions. Is this the Nobel Peace Prize that was awarded to Yasser Arafat? Is this the Nobel Peace Prize that was awarded to that incompetent, Kofi Annan?

The Nobel Peace Prize has become a forum to tweak the U.S. government.

Fred Landis

Roanoke

Kaine has demonstrated positive attributes

Instead of discussing candidates' failings, let's talk about their accomplishments.

Under Mark Warner's leadership, which extends to Tim Kaine as Democratic candidate for governor, Virginia has become the best-managed state in the nation. Kaine's public speeches and debate presentations are clear, concise and constructive. He has taken sensible positions on a great many controversial issues. He deserves our votes in November.

Michael Saffle

Blacksburg

Kilgore's tough stance on domestic violence

When it comes to domestic violence, nobody has been stronger than Jerry Kilgore at working to protect Virginia families.

As attorney general, Kilgore not only appointed a statewide director for domestic violence programs, but he also established a $3 million domestic violence victim fund and stiffened penalties for abusers.

Domestic violence may not be on the news every night, but it is one of the most serious crimes facing our commonwealth and an area where Kilgore has been far more outspoken than his opponent.

All Virginians should keep Kilgore's tough stance on domestic violence in mind when they go to the polls on Nov. 8.

Shirley joslin

vinton

Virginians ill-served by underhanded tactics

Seventy-five stolen signs for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tim Kaine were dumped onto Shirley and Cabell Brand's front porch and lawn in Salem on Oct. 4. Mine may have been one of them.

Such bullying is morally wrong, but many Republicans prefer dirty tricks to playing by the rules.

Just like those who stole my sign in broad daylight, our Republican Congress has no shame. Instead of governing, Republicans take advantage of disasters to use public funds to conduct deals for their friends. They used 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina to transfer public funding to rich corporate buddies already reaping windfall profits. Just look at Dick Cheney and all of Haliburton's no-bid contracts from Gulf to Gulf.

Jerry Kilgore uncritically supports his corrupt party and has that Republican obsession with bribing voters with tax cuts, no matter the effect on Virginia. It took Mark Warner four years to straighten out Virginia's fiscal house. Why vote for a Gilmore clone who would first activate irresponsible and crippling tax cuts, then see what is left over for public services and education?

I pity the future of Virginia if enough voters are fooled by Kilgore's promises. If you're thinking sanely, you'll vote for Tim Kaine.

Ruth Hubble

Salem

Kaine's liberal record speaks volumes

Tim Kaine is the most desperate, cynical politician I've ever seen. He's constantly trying to change his liberal image in order to win in conservative Virginia, but his record keeps getting in the way.

So far, he has flip-flopped on abortion, guns and taxes. Kaine is, and has always been, a pro-abortion, anti-gun, tax-and-spend liberal, but now he wants to hoodwink us into believing the opposite.

He has supported increased gasoline taxes, but falsely accuses Jerry Kilgore of supporting higher taxes on natural gas.

He has a terrible anti-gun record, but puts out "Sportsmen for Kaine" signs in a sneaky attempt to fool hunters and gun owners into thinking that he isn't as bad as his record indicates.

But of all of Kaine's devious attempts to trick and mistreat voters, his about-face on the death penalty is the worst of all. The criminals whom liberal Kaine loves to coddle have left grieving families of their victims behind.

If his religion causes him to oppose the death penalty and abortion but political necessity forces him to promise to uphold the law and support both, then isn't there something wrong with a fellow who puts political gain ahead of his religious beliefs?

Bobby May

Hurley

Public speaking isn't president's strong suit

President Bush has been speaking on television quite a lot lately. It would be easier to listen to him if he'd ever taken elocution lessons.

Perhaps, then, he'd have learned to say "to" instead of "ta" and "for" instead of "fer."

Yes, I know I'm nit-picking, but it makes listening "ta" him easier "fer" me "ta" bear.

Marian Miller

Roanoke