Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 61

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1991 3d ST. PETERSBURG TIMES LETTERS Jeff MacNelly in the demise of television as an overblown purveyor of news or entertainment. Gen Rogers, Largo OPERATION DESERT SEA. The law guarantees us the right to voice our opinions; this is one segment of our freedom that all Americans cherish. Therefore, I wholeheartedly agree that war dissenters are entitled to their views.

However, the repugnant manner in which some of the demonstrators have been conducting themselves is a national disgrace. Unpatriotic events such as flag burning would undoubtedly dishearten our heroic troops. Furthermore, this is a time that Americans need to be supporting the president and the military, thereby displaying our unity to the world, particularly to Saddam Hussein. Thomas W. Cunningham St.

Petersburg Stop bickering over America's involvement in the Middle East The bickering must cease over our involvement in the Middle East. What kind of message are we sending our loved ones over there when the media paint us as a nation divided? Do we really stop and think about how we may be affecting them not to mention the tremendous propaganda tool Saddam Hussein is making out of us? Yet, the common ground I find among all those both pro and con is that they support our troops. It is by this common ground that we are bound to stand up and be counted! And not just by few and sporadic gatherings, but rather a nationwide, coast-to-coast outpouring of love and devotion to our service personnel and their families. I'm not asking anyone to "bury" their stand on the issue of our involvement in the Persian Gulf. All I ask is for all of us to back our personnel to: 1.

Heighten morale (which will save lives); 2. Curb international diversity; 3. Give Hussein his worst nightmare national unity and one less option to torture our POWs. My biggest regret is that I'm neither a celebrity nor a promoter, because it would take someone of great magnitude to pull off such a venture. I can only hope and pray that either someone has such plans in the works or, if nothing else, I've planted a seed.

If neither materialize, then I'm sure we, the "everyday people" can surely get the ball rolling. Let's join together in a unified effort to support our men and women overseas, eliminate as many casualties as we can and convince Saddam Hussein to cease his aggression for we are not his puppets of propaganda. The sooner he realizes this, the closer this allied coalition comes to a successful and rapid end. Clara Murzynski, Largo How great the price of freedom has been that we should all, as U.S. citizens, be ever so grateful and ever so proud of our soldiers who are risking their lives to protect our freedom.

We should humbly give thanks to each family who is suffering through this crisis, for each parent whose child's fate is undetermined, for each child whose mother or father may not return. Perhaps, during all of this turmoil and suffering, we can try to lend a helping hand, to love our neighbor, to try to find peace in each other closer to home. Carol Hutchings, Terra Ceia I fully support President Bush and our armed forces. The only question I have been asking myself is: Why are we being so selective about our bombing targets if our leaders are allowed to have full reign and make short work of this war? Do we think for one minute that Saddam "Insane" would be even half as concerned about our welfare and innocent victims if it was him on the other end, pulling the trigger and dropping the bomb on us? I think not. Of course, that is exactly what he would like to do.

Also, I would like to say that as a visiting snowbird from the north, I have been thrilled beyond words at the patriotism and troop support I am seeing here in your area. Nearly every business has a banner or sign showing support; flags and yellow ribbons are displayed; American and allied flags are being flown by a group of young people along your very busy U.S. 19, and a special thrill was to see the thousands of flag-waving spectators and the flag-bearing servicemen at the Super Bowl game. Carol Reiser, New Port Richey As Don's cartoon indicated, it has truly been, "The Blitz Lite, Gulf War Scoreboard Show." Let's hope that reason will soon prevail and that ABC, in particular, will resume its reporting with journalistic professionalism. Warren J.

Papin, St. Petersburg media as well as the personal risk that staff members are willing to take in an effort to keep the American public updated on this crisis. What concerns me greatly is the possibility that news might unwittingly be released that would provide helpful information to the opposition re: location and damage of Scud missiles, locations of allied positions, future targets of allied forces, etc. In short, I favor restrictions of news which would in any way aid our enemies or prove detrimental to the allied forces. It is also true that while I recognize that war is dreadful, I do not wish to see the gory details.

To state it another way, if a loved one of mine was scheduled for open-heart surgery, I would not wish to be in the operating theater even though I approved the procedure. Mrs. Albert Scott, Clearwater Members of Congress "agonized," ad nauseum, whether to rely on sanctions or to join "Bush leaguers" on the killing grounds. The agony gave birth to TV sound bite war reports and orchestrated press conferences, all carefully avoiding comment re: Iraqi civilian casualties. I have been exposed to countless comparisons between Saddam Hussein and Adolf Hitler.

It occurs to me that there may also be an appropriate comparison between the U.S. propaganda machine and that of Joseph Paul Goebbels, the Nazi propagandist of World War II. Our elected representatives will, sooner or later (much later), agonize over ways and means to pay for the present madness and for the means to restore war ravaged areas to normal whatever that may be. Then the lower middle and middle class Americans will agonize over why they paid in blood, what they will pay in reduced benefits and how they will pay in increased taxes. Garth II.

Blais, Largo Granted Hussein is a ruthless enemy to the world. However, I am convinced that the military has become such a part of the average Americans' thinking that they really can't handle peace. The military is woven into every fabric of our life. There are very few families that haven't been exposed to military indoctrination in each generation: Our children were nurtured on war toys, video war games, etc. Even more ridiculous is the fact that military retirees get discounts at commissaries on many items, including booze and cigarettes.

This is out of our tax dollars. Sure, there are times when we need to support the defense of our country. This wasn't one of them. When the military becomes a dominant lifestyle with a country, we are in trouble. Ralph Waldo Emerson warned us years ago of the danger of marching feet and military music.

There is so much to do in our country. There is the need for health care and improved education, there are serious environmental problems, as well as the erosion of the working class. Unless we change this militant posture and lifestyle we will become a second class country. John K. Murray, Largo It would be difficult to fault the extent and the timeliness of the American media's coverage of the Persian Gulf war.

It has been superlative. Sensitivity to and understanding of our military's need to restrict certain essential information has been, however, sadly lacking. I happened to be in Western Europe during the first week of the war and kept up to date as best I could via CNN, the BBC and SKY News whenever possible. One interview with two British journalists was particularly revealing. After saying that they understood and supported the restrictions placed upon their activities, both were asked to comment on the complaints voiced by members of the American media reference access to troops and sensitive information.

Each said that these complaints and other actions by numerous members of the American media were unfounded and had led these British journalists to question which side these American media people were on. It seems that a large segment of our media, in their zealous quest to assure accuracy and objectivity, have forgotten the special circumstances of war and the acceptability of supporting our side. Tom Kelly, Clearwater In recent days the media both print and electronic have made frequent reference to a lack of preparedness among our troops in the Persian Gulf. Aside from the fact that such comments are harmful to the morale of relatives and friends of those who serve, I feel that the credentials of those who pass judgment may be suspect. Since most criticism has On Aug.

6, 1945, the first of two atomic bombs was dropped on Japan causing that nation to surrender nine days later. The surrender prevented the necessity of invading Japan thereby avoiding an estimated million American casualties. It also proved that air power can, indeed, win a war. Has that lesson been forgotten by our military command? Albert Herrington, Clearwater People seem to forget that the soldier, not the journalist, has preserved the freedom of the press. The soldier, not the poet, has preserved freedom of speech.

The soldier, not the campus organizer, has preserved the freedom to demonstrate. Young people today speak of peace I ask you what is peace without freedom? The point, of course, is that a real peace must include freedom, and, for the time being, we must maintain armed forces to ensure that freedom. Paul G. Gillespie, Clearwater It is necessary we remind all the "peace now protesters," they are pulling the trigger on escalation of the war in the Persian Gulf. Public opinion will surely work to push the nation's decision makers into a quick and foolhardy decision to start a ground war quicker than needed.

Granted these protesters are a minority, but they have become more vocal than the majority. A hasty ground war will surely cost the coalition many unnecessary lives. Can they not see the United States is committed to the liberation of Kuwait and the armed forces must work the war on their own schedule? Stop the protest! Americans have never wanted war but if it is necessary, let the government run it without undue pressure from these misled, uninformed protesters. What would you do if a bully came into your home and threw you out, brutally murdering your relatives? This is precisely what happened to all Kuwaitis. C.

B. McManus, Clearwater been aimed at the ground forces I must question the combat experiences of the columnists and TV reporters who are so judgmental. It is my fervent hope that all of our troops had 4 been trained in such a fashion that they were well-versed in all the military skills. There is not yet to my knowledge any way of preparing any man or woman for the shock of combat prior to hisher first i experience under fire. Insofar as filling the gaps in "regular" units with reservists, let me remind the commentators that it is necessary on a regular basis to fill the gaps left by casualties with so-called "green" troops (replacements) who in all probability are far less experienced than those reservists mentioned above.

Let us not lend comfort to our enemy by our i words or actions in the media or elsewhere. I would 1 1 hope also that those who march in protest of the war would do some soul searching and figure out which country they harm by their protests. Roy Johnston, Port Richey Share your opinions We invite readers to write to us. Letters for 1 publication should be addressed to Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 1121, St.

Petersburg, 33731, (FAX i number, 893-8675). Don Addis' Jan. 25 editorial cartoon summed up pictorially my own view of the ridiculous competition being displayed by the electronic media in covering the gulf war. This was exemplified by ABC's Peter Jennings usurping the half-time show of the Super Bowl with 30 minutes of non-news. This, however, was just the latest of ABC and Jennings' proclivity to break into regular programing with long-winded editorializing and senseless video bouncing between Washington, Tel Aviv, to hear more about nothing.

All of us certainly want to be kept informed of the progress of the war in the gulf. However, I prefer to see, hear or read a reasoned, factual relating of events after there has been time to check it out and think, rather than the immediate crash announcement of another Scud being shot down over Tel Aviv or Riyadh and all of the attendant speculations as to where it hit, how much damage, will the Israelis react, etc. Hopefully our troops in the Middle East are not listening to the media second-guessing everything they hear at the briefings. These people are not journalists, as they refer to themselves, but reporters and not very good ones. We as citizens can handle this easily by listening to the military briefings and drawing our own conclusions.

We do not need ABC, CBS or NBC to tell us what to think or how to react. We are being much better served by radio now. Perhaps this might result I am one of many concerned Americans who during the past 10 days have watched television for hours and thoughtfully read the Times, Newsweek and other publications in order to be aware of the Persian Gulf situation. I do appreciate the efforts by the news By Steve Newman EARTHWEEK: A diary of the planet War Casualties Thousands of migratory birds wintering in Indian only 28 percent of normal statewide, apparently assuring another year of a drought that may virtually wipe out several types of fish and wildlife, state game officials warned. Croc Bite national parks may have rcn a '-n c-xV .73 an outbreak of a rare and deadly disease which has killed six people.

First reported among Burmese opium smokers early this century, the tropical disease known as melioidosis can kill within 12 hours if left untreated. The bacteria pseudomanus pseudomallai, which causes melioidosis' pneumonia-like symptoms, is resistant to traditional antibiotics. Northern Territory Medical Officer Dr. Aileen Plant said the bacteria may have been flushed to the surface by rising water tables from recent rains. People contract the disease through cuts or abrasions.

Muddy Eruption Cuba's Prensa Latina reported the terrifying tale of Jose Escanell to change course on their flights back home because of the worst oil slick in history, and the smoke plumes from burning oil in the war-torn Gulf. Siberian cranes usually begin migrating northward by the end of January, overflying Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran. Other flocks leave about the same time to cross several Middle Eastern countries, including Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Television coverage of the ground war in northern Saudi Arabia has clearly shown flocks of migratory birds flying directly over the battlefields. The Gulf War threatens the existence of rare species of gazelle, leopard and wolf in the Middle East.

Almost 20 species of animals in Iraq, Israel, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia were identified as "endangered or vulnerable" by wildlife conservationists before the hostilities broke out on Jan. 17. G.M.Oza, General Secretary of the International Society of Naturalists, warned that widespread destruction of animal habitat on the desert steppes would greatly deplete wildlife numbers. Tropical Disease The Keireki volcano erupted with fountains of mud near the Azer- Perez, who bit into an attacking crocodile during a desperate attempt to free himself from the reptile's jaws. The agency said Escanell was caught in the croc's mouth while tending to his nets at a crocodile ranch in Las Tunas province, 420 miles east of Havana.

"I bit it on the base of the tail to see if it would release me, but no way," Escanell said. Only when Escanell poked his fingers into the animal's eyes did it loosen its grip. After receiving 16 stitches for head and hand injuries, Escanell said, "I'm not afraid of the ferocity of those beasts. You've got to treat crocodiles with courage and love." I Bella ii5 Geraldton, KM Western Australia 5.3 For the week ending February 1, 1991 baydzhan capital of Baku following two years of inactivity. There are more than 200 mud volcanoes in Az-erbaydzhan, nearly two-thirds of the world's total.

Record Drought r-l 1991'Chrcnide Feature cL 1 As California braces for an unprecedented fifth year of drought, state water officials Tropical Storm Earthquakes made plans to impose a 300-gallon At the height of the tropical cyclone season in the central Indian Ocean, cyclone Guerrero state, off northern Irian Jaya 'i in eastern Indonesia, along Japan's i eastern Honshu coast, in Tadzhiki- stan, and near Cleveland, Ohio. Additional Sources: U. S. Climate Analysis Center, U. S.

Earthquake Information Center and the World Meteorological Organization. 4 Spanish researchers measured a magnitude 7 quake near Deception Island, along the Antarctic Peninsula. The temblor generated a tsunami which submerged an area 30-40 yards inland on one beach. Earth movements were also felt in Mexico's Two quakes shook parts of New Zealand's South Island, damaging the main daily limit per household, without regard to the number of residents, and to provid farmers with only enough water to keep perennial plants, such as fruit trees, alive. Rainfall since Oct.

1 has averaged Doctors in Australia's tropical Northern Territory believe that this season's heavy Bella passed east of the island of Mauritius with maximum sustained winds of 1 1 0 miles per hour, before losing force late in the week. highway between Westport and Nelson, and toppling chimneys. monsoon rains have contributed to.