LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Gates sullies reputation with tell-all
1/20/2014I admire former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and I defend his right to freedom of speech (“Gates waited too long to speak out,” op-ed column, Jan. 16). But I question his judgment with respect to his criticisms of President Obama while our country is still engaged in military operations in Afghanistan.
How does it serve our country to read that Mr. Gates believes that Mr. Obama can’t stand Afghan President Hamid Karzai, and that Mr. Obama does not believe in his own Afghanistan strategy?
What motivates such a highly respected man as Mr. Gates, who received the Medal of Freedom from President Obama?
GUY BARONE
Sylvania Township
Costco delay may give pause to think
I hope that Costco, Perrysburg’s new mayor, Mike Olmstead, and members of City Council will constructively use the time that has resulted by Costco delaying public hearings to review their proposed development at State Rt. 25 and Eckel Junction Road (“Gas pipeline on Costco site delays construction plans; Retailer could make parking changes,” Dec. 13).
Costco’s proposed main entrance is too close to the busy interchange with I-475. Eventual improvements will not eliminate the additional congestion that will be created if Costco develops this site.
Our family attempted on numerous occasions to develop property directly across the Costco site on State Rt. 25. We were repeatedly denied a curb cut that was a requirement for those developments to go forward, yet Perrysburg’s planning commission has approved a curb cut for the Costco project that is many times larger.
We are not opposed to Costco locating in Perrysburg. But there are several other sites within Perrysburg that could accommodate a Costco and would have less impact on neighbors and adjacent business.
LANCE CRAIG
President Craig Transportation Co. Perrysburg
Mich. abortion ban uncaring
If the Republican Party is supposed to stand for less governmental interference in our daily lives, then how can Republican lawmakers in Michigan pass a law allowing government to dictate to insurance companies that their primary health insurance plans can pay for an abortion only if it is needed to save a woman’s life (“Legislature OKs ban on abortion insurance; Law requires rider; Snyder can’t veto,” Dec. 12)?
How would those lawmakers feel about the laws they are passing if they affected their own families? If their 12-year-old daughter or granddaughter was raped and became pregnant, would they want her to give birth to the baby?
If she did give birth, would they then welcome that baby — their grandchild or great-grandchild — into their families and help provide the love and support the mother and baby would need to grow up and become healthy, well-adjusted adults?
Journalists should ask these questions the next time politicians or anti-abortion interest groups propose further restrictions on abortion access.
ROBERT KELSO
Sylvania Township