Letters to the editor — Oct. 17

• Published October 17, 2007

That surely aids in winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqi citizens.

We now discover that the first report by the State Department on the Blackwater incident — a report that exonerated them — was written by an employee of Blackwater? Is that honest oversight? What could be the motivation for that?

Finally, the Maliki government, the publicly elected government of Iraq, has asked for Blackwater to leave. Yet they are not leaving.

This is a question of whether we honor the sovereignty of the Iraqi government. Obviously we do not. It also makes a lie out of the main reason that is trumpeted for our coming to Iraq — to bring them democracy. The immoral consequences of our invading Iraq tragically continue.

Paul Fiorini, Lacey

Replica of territorial capitol is needed

As the Department of General Administration begins the process of planning for the redevelopment of the Capitol Campus south of 14th Avenue, I want to suggest that the visitor information building be replaced with a replica of the territorial capitol building. This Victorian wood-frame structure served as the state Capitol from 1856 until 1905, when the Legislature moved into the old state capitol across from Sylvester Park. Unfortunately, the building was razed when the current Legislative Building was constructed in the 1920s.

The proposed site on 14th and Capitol Way is only two blocks from the original location of the building and would serve as an attractive place for visitors to the campus to be oriented. Both GA and state Parks and Recreation have been directed by the governor and the Legislature to enhance visitor services on the campus, and resurrecting the old territorial capitol would be a wonderful way to do that.

Allen T. Miller, Olympia

Richardson would bring all troops home

In a recent Democratic presidential candidates’ debate at Dartmouth, we finally got to see where the candidates really stand on Iraq.

Of the top four candidates, only one committed to bringing all of the troops home within his first term as president: Gov. Bill Richardson. It’s no coincidence that Richardson is the candidate with the most foreign policy experience and possesses diplomatic skills unsurpassed by any of his rivals.

Sens. Clinton, Obama and Edwards all have said they would leave troops in Iraq, and in the debate, were unable to commit to getting all of the troops out before 2013.

Residual troops equals stay the course, and that’s simply unacceptable. Bill Richardson is a proven leader with real results, and he’s committed to bringing Bush’s foreign policy debacle to an end immediately. Can we afford another five years of stay the course? I don’t think so.

Ken Camp, Tumwater