More to post-9/11 terror situation than attacks

In response to John Brenen’s statement of fact that to date there haven’t been any attacks in the United States since 9/11, I concur with his version of that fact (Letters, July 16. “Give Bush credit for no attacks since 9/11”). However, as in most discussions on this issue, there is more to the story.

Why attack in the United States when we are sending over 100,000 U.S. targets to Iraq/Afghanistan, where attacks requiring only a Toyota pickup and a rifle are carried out on a daily basis? No need to worry about transportation, passports and Homeland Security. While the twin towers was dramatic, a dead Marine is just that ... DEAD.

In addition, the economic turmoil in the United States is a direct result of Mr. Responsibility and his war in Iraq, which opened the door for greed and speculation to run unchecked. Remember, this was a goal of Osama bin Laden’s strategy and George Bush stepped into it with both feet.

Until the Right finally wakes up to the facts and accepts some responsibility for voting for irresponsibility — twice — and quits sending other people’s kids to war (their children always seem to be otherwise occupied), we can expect more of the same. Remember, you got what you voted for — twice. As (TV detective) Berretta used to say, “and that’s the name of that tune.”

Christian R. Gross, (U.S. Navy [Ret.]), Corvallis

Founders were clear on private gun ownership

Aware of the long and clamorous dispute which has ensued over the topic of private gun ownership and its relation to the Second Amendment, I think it high time that the Gazette-Times’ readership disabused itself of this incertitude by an appeal to our nation’s Founding Fathers.

No less a personage than Thomas Jefferson said, in language that defies all gainsaying, that “... No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.” What person of sound mind could fail to apprehend so explicit an utterance? What part of “no” is there to be misunderstood?

And it was that most intrepid sentinel of human liberty, Patrick Henry, who affirmed that “ ... The great object is, that every man be armed ... Every one who is able may have a gun.” Can the phrase “every man” be misconstrued? No, but this is proof positive that the advantage of keeping arms is to be extended to all free citizens having sufficient means to acquire them.

As to the militia question: We need search no further than the great statesman and father of the Bill of Rights, George Mason, who was careful to elucidate the matter with these words: “I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials.”

Now, although I have not the luxury of a personal firearm, at this stage, I both honor and pray for those whose work it is to secure my right to do so.

Kevin Taylor, Corvallis

What about Bush’s terror record leading up to 9/11?

In the July 16 Gazette Times, John Brenan employs a classic case of cherry picking when he credits George W. Bush for no terrorist attacks since 9/11. If he wants to count this in Bush’s favor, then he has to accept that it was Bush and his administration that ignored all the warning signs before 9/11, which resulted in that terrible day. He can’t have it both ways and simply choose the actions he wants while ignoring the ones he does not want.

Of course, to add to Bush’s actions against terrorism, he started a war in a country that had nothing to do with 9/11 — a fact he even admitted in public. As everyone now knows, this is a war in which more than 4,000 brave young Americans have been killed so far, as well as tens of thousands (if not hundreds of thousands) of innocent Iraqi civilians. Let’s look at all the actions of the current administration before giving credit for one and ignoring the others.

Werner A. Mukatis, Corvallis

Bush and Hitler are comparable in some ways

Chris Giunta, the author of the July 17 “As I see it” column, “Bush is no Hitler,” was mightily offended by the “gaggle” of war protesters who had the temerity to display signs comparing the current White House occupant with the one-time leader of the Third Reich.

Now, (Giunta) is technically correct in that the president was never a member (that we know of) of the Nazi Party, nor does he speak German. The reference was purely intended to point to the gross deceptions both used to seize control of critical assets and causing the disbursement and demise of countless thousands of innocent civilians.

It may also be true that the present regime has not gone after its citizens yet, which is a comfort only if you are not a Middleasterner. The quibble seems to be more about the number of people who died as a result of a leader’s action that determines who is or is not a monster. (Do we draw the line at, say, 100,000?)

As to the suggestion about taking a history class: It surely would be instructive to consult the documents in the National Archives detailing salient facts about Sen. Prescott Bush, who admired and traded with the Nazis, serving as business partner cum U.S. Banking operative for the Thyssen Group, financiers of the Nazi War machine. Sadly, as with MSM (Main Stream Media) poodles, it is safer to be selective in what one chooses to believe.

Leo de Vogel, Corvallis