9/11 attacks were acts of war on U.S.

Paul Krugman's take on the jihadist threat in his Oct. 31 column, "Unreasoning fear is taking over Republican campaign rhetoric," is as patronizing as it is disturbingly cavalier.

He seems to think we all need educating about terminology: "there isn't actually any such thing as Islamofascism - it's not an ideology; it's a figment of the neocon imagination." Yes, I think we get that, just like use of the term "male chauvinism" doesn't imply that we all think it's an actual philosophical position.

His characterization of Sept. 11 as "an atrocity" minimizes the gravity of the event. Beheading hostages on video is an atrocity. September 11 was an act of war. The last time we were victimized by such a sneak attack, at Pearl Harbor, we ended up at war against three different countries. That Iraq was the wrong enemy to go after should not blind us to the enormity of the threat to national security posed by the jihadists.

Only a candidate who demonstrates sufficient awareness of that is going to get my vote in 2008.

Al DeMaris

Maumee

Since the American Medical Association has barred doctors from performing the three-step cocktail executions by injection, which are often botched, this procedure is administered by an inexperienced warden or staff.

So what is wrong with getting Dr. Death or shoot them on sight like they do their victims? This would eliminate the expense of attorney's fees, trials, travel, juries, and court expenses.

Martha Sevrence

Wauseon

To the Oct. 31 letter writer who complained that she drove around Toledo three hours and couldn't find a blighted area to shoot some "B-roll" shots, please pass on my name. I'll give a tour.

I assume the writer was stuck in Ottawa Hills (and thought it was Toledo) or maybe happened into the Old Orchard area and couldn't find a way out. No outlet streets can be so confusing.

Heck, the writer might have even visited the famous Townley Road area.

Golly, I'll know a "neat" house on Fernwood that hangs tennis shoes from the big tree out front to indicate the occupants sell crack. Better, yet, why didn't the writer ask for a ridealong with the Toledo Police Department from any district station? They certainly could have provided some "cool" action (Full armor and protection an extra added option).

Are you kidding? Start on Detroit Avenue at River Road and drive north to the Michigan line. I guarantee you will find "B-roll" material. Toledo is like a Monopoly game of neighborhoods. I'd hate to think your documentary, Glass City, becomes an inept, untrue promotional ad for Toledo - one of the "Five Best Places to Live."

I guess those rose-colored glasses are way too much fun to take off.

Jo Ellen Locher

Kingsford Drive

I d like to meet the guy who wrote the Nov. 6 letter about Toledo s livable assets. He must be delusional or smoking some powerful stuff. T-town does not have much to offer in the way of job or cultural diversifi cation. That is why I left 17 years ago. That guy needs to get a clue.

DAVID MUMFORD

Atlanta, Ga.