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Highlands Today

July 28th Letters

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Highlands Today

Published: July 28, 2008

Surge Overblown

I am frankly mystified at the endless palaver concerning the surge, which, according to my recollections, was an infusion of some 25,000 additional troops into Iraq last year. Such a decision was not a change in tactics or certainly not a new strategy, yet it is currently a subject of political debate as if such a decision was a stroke of military genius as to warrant a complete rewrite of the curriculum at West Point.

Surely, using more soldiers to do more of the same thing with more emphasis had some foreseeable consequences, but the current crowing about it is at least baffling.

Whether the "surge" was a late blooming recognition of the correctness of General Shinshecki's opinion that our forces were greatly undermanned from the beginning, and the root cause of why things had gone badly for so long, or an inspired decision to provide a push to improve our military posture and at the same time motivate the Iraqis to move toward a reconciliation of their differences is largely academic.

The latest spin on this issue is to characterize any suggestion that the surge was anything less than brilliant is to disparage the sacrifice of our troops and is fundamentally unpatriotic. What a cheap way to avoid analysis and criticism.

The Iraqis will solve their political differences at their own speed, irrespective of the numbers of American troops present. The big issue for the Americans to come to grips with is whether we will control on the ground or let circumstances dictate our posture. It seems clear that decisive leadership compels the former.

Randy Ludacer
Lake Placid

Thank You
Thanks to the Albertson's Community Partners Program, Sebring Elks Lodge 1529 has raised thousands of dollars for the Florida Elks Youth Camp.

We would like to give a special thank you to the manager Don Clay and Julia for the help along the way. Your commitment to serving the community as well as your courteous staff will be greatly missed.

Once again, thank you from the youth of Florida who attended the camp and our lodge for helping us send them.

Grace Flis
Sebring Elks

Wrong Time
It is sad that the government is so oblivious to its surroundings.

I'll bet anyone in this forum that the sheriff is going to be looking for a job come re-election time because she is pushing this (new sheriff's building) while the rest of the common working folks are losing their jobs and businesses.

I also believe that any commissioner that supports this endeavor during these trying times will have a difficult time being re-elected, and rightfully so.

I do support the further growth, and I also believe we may very well need a new sheriff's facility, but the timing is way out of whack. It is nothing short of an insult to the people that pay the county bills. A decision of this magnitude should be voted on by the people and now is not the time! Mark my words and place your wagers.

Should any of you government elitists want to comment, please precede it with your wager and put your money where your mouth is. Most of us are acutely aware that you are the only ones with money in this economy. The sad part is that we fund you and you aren't smart enough to acknowledge it, as evidenced by your decision making processes. Standing by!

William Sueppel
Lake Placid

Dear Barack Obama,
I am so glad you made it this far to the top two. I already know that you are going to win the presidential race and be president of the United States of America.

It will be very cool to have a president of a different color for once. It will not only encourage other kinds of people to have the confidence to be president but, you will be the first different-colored president in the history of the United States.

I don't only think you should be president because you are of a different color. I think you should be president because you have the ability to understand people when you don't speak their language, that's why I think you are going to be president.

Gabriella Rossy
Sun 'N Lake Elementary

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