A misguided decision to run story

7/4/2006

It was a morally reprehensible breach of judgment for the New York Times (along with the Wall Street Journal and the Los Angeles Times) to publish the story on the government's monitoring of bank transactions among suspected terrorists outside the United States.

It is my understanding that this monitoring is entirely legal, that Congress had been briefed on its existence, and that apparently the program has been considered successful up to this point.

If senior members of the Times were concerned about more oversight of the program, they could have made their concerns known through private channels, without tipping off the terrorists about the program's existence.

No matter what one's position is on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the simple fact is that the United States and other nations making up the coalition are vulnerable to terrorist attacks. We will never know the extent to which the New York Times' misguided decision to publish this story has hurt our government's efforts to root out terrorists, but one thing is certain. We don't need the likes of the Times, Wall Street Journal, or Los Angeles Times to compromise the efforts of our government to identify and hopefully stop them before they do serious harm here at home.

I also strongly feel that the leaker of this information should be charged, tried, and, if convicted, be sentenced to significant prison time.

I think the New York Times is blessed with enormously talented, dedicated staff and management, but in this case they really blew it.

Philip K. Selden

Sylvania

It was obvious early on that the New York Times along with most left-wing politicians are rooting for a failure in the Iraq war because they believe if progress is not made come 2008 they have a better chance in the polls. The latest Times release of a classified government program is way over the line. The Times released the details of a top-secret program during time of war that will benefit the enemy. This is called treason.

The person who gave them this information is not a "leaker," he or she is guilty of espionage and treason and should be hunted down. During time of war, treason is punishable by death.

The Constitution of the United States, Art. III, defines treason against the United States to consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid or comfort. This offense is punished with death.

By the same article of the Constitution, no person shall be convicted of treason, unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court.

Besides giving aid or comfort to the enemy, I'm starting to wonder if the Times is on the al-Qaeda payroll as well.

Kip Brown

Cherry Hill Road

Now that the Senate has voted down the flag-burning amendment, here is a novel idea for Congress. How about debating and passing a law that balances the freaking out-of-control budget?

Quit wasting time debating gay marriage and flag burning amendments and get to the important business that really matters to future generations.

Jim Perlman

Sylvania

It's a shame that the Toledo Mud Hens apparently won't be asking an acquaintance of mine, Jim Bunning, to All-Star Week at Fifth Third Field. I was told he was not invited because he had been manager of the Toledo Mud Hens a long time ago (1974-75) and they didn't have enough room.

I was disappointed. Jim Bunning was elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame in 1996 as a pitcher. He pitched a no-hitter for the Detroit Tigers and also a no-hitter, which was a perfect game, for the Philadelphia Phillies. He is one of only two pitchers to throw no-hitters in each league.

Another accomplishment of Jim Bunning is that he is presently a United States senator. He previously was a U.S. representative from Kentucky and, when I first met him, he was running for governor of Kentucky.

What does a person have to do to get an invitation in the city of Toledo?

LARRY R. DARGART

Maumee

It is with much gratitude that Terri Camp, Diann Toffler, and I acknowledge the University of Toledo Humanities 2000 program for its support in launching Perrysburg High School's humanities program, a class that synthesizes history and literature and their relationship to music, art, and ethics.

It is the UT Art Department and its effective connection with the Toledo Museum of Art that allowed our students to be recipients of scholarly knowledge because of David Guip's consultation with us before the school year, as well as an educational field trip to the art museum's Tiffany exhibit.

Additionally, our students benefited from class visits from UT Humanities scholars Tom Barden, a Vietnam expert and veteran, and Timothy Messer-Kruse, an expert and author on the Great Depression in Toledo.

This giving set of professional scholars coordinated their efforts with us through the guiding efforts of Charlie Blatz and the retiring Roger Ray.

We want the Toledo public concerned with attaining educational value for their children to understand the valuable resources available to their schools.

Our students have benefited so much from our collaboration that Perrysburg High school has tripled the number of students wanting to be involved in humanities.

AMY HOCHANADEL

Perrysburg

I had the distinct privilege to attend the closing of the Catholic Youth Work Camp. I say privilege because I met advisers who spent their time and money to be helping hands for those who needed them. These young people gave up their summertime and hundreds of dollars to come from all over the country to work.

And, work they did, from landscaping to painting to installing a complete new gymnasium floor.

They worked for Catholic churches, Methodist facilities, nonprofit groups, and in private homes of the elderly.

They worked cheerfully, skillfully, and tirelessly. They were of diverse races and social backgrounds, yet they were sisters and brothers to each other and all the people they came to help.

Seeing such selfless giving and the obvious love with which these people worked gave me renewed hope in the future of our country.

A few determined people can make a difference.

Along with the people they helped, I give my thanks for such fine teens and volunteers who came into my life for awhile but will stay in my mind and heart forever.

JACK McCOMIS

Sabra Road

Our mayor thinks that he can set executive salaries without reference to either the City Code or the City Council.

"Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed, that he is grown so great?" (Julius Caesar, Act 1, Scene 2.)

ROBERT G. MORRIS

Manchester Boulevard

How ironic that those people in Congress who pretend to be "protecting" our flag are actually using it to advance their tawdry political goals. Burning a flag is reprehensible, but if the flag stands for freedom of speech, how can the right to speak against it be denied? It is to mistake the symbol for the reality. We must not hold the symbol above the reality it is supposed to represent.

The bible clearly admonishes idolatry because that is to put icons (symbols) before God (reality). Replace icons & God with flag and freedom and you have your answer.

John Chadwick

Penn Road