Letters to the editor -- July 16

• Published July 16, 2008

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The views are spectacular

Overheard at a July 2010 penthouse party atop Tri Vo’s newly completed high rise condos: “Dahhling, what are those little people down there complaining about? The views are simply mahhvelous from up here!”

John Fortugno, Olympia

An Obama presidency would doom America

If you want unemployment to rise to double digits, vote for Barack Obama for president.

If you want to stop innovation, vote for Obama.

If you want the 1930s to look like they were utopia, vote for Obama.

Economically speaking, Senator Obama is a pure collectivist. He eliminates the individual.

Jim Minton, Olympia

Progress in Iraq is indisputable

I couldn’t believe my eyes as I read a recent headline in The Olympian: “As ‘surge’ ends, Iraq’s progress is questionable.”

Questionable? Who’s kidding whom? As I read the article some interesting facts emerged:

“As the last five ... brigades now head home, it leaves the country far safer than it was a year ago.” What is questionable about that?

“Two reports released Monday laid out significant political, economic, and security progress in Iraq.” Again, does this sound questionable?

“Al-Qaida, meanwhile, has been hobbled by the military buildup and subsequent improvement of Iraqi forces...” For crying out loud, we should be shouting hallelujah! Instead, The Olympian says the progress is questionable.

“Most provinces in other parts of the country averaged less than one attack per day.” Really? Sounds like real progress to me.

“Civilian deaths in May were 75 percent lower than last July.” That’s 75 percent in one year! And our local paper has the nerve to call that kind of progress questionable?

“High profile attacks are down 70 percent ...” If this isn’t real progress I don’t know what is.

The obvious impression is that someone doesn’t want to give credit where credit is due. Perhaps somebody is unconsciously hoping that the progress is not genuine lest it validate the policies of George W. Bush.

Yes, Iraq is still volatile and there is much yet to be done, but the progress is not questionable; it is indisputable.