More War in Our Name?
Our thanks to Stephanie Kraft for alerting Advocate readers to the Bush administration's renewed efforts to initiate military action against Iran. Her article "Another War?" [July 3, 2008] is the most sober and succinct assessment of the current crisis we've seen in any regional news outlet. The congressional resolution Kraft refers to (H362), which sets the stage for a full-scale confrontation, is not only "gathering momentum." A July 6 Press TV report cites the view of Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) that "the atmosphere in Congress indicates that a military strike on Iran has already been condoned."
? Since February, 2006 the International Stop War on Iran Campaign has petitioned the White House and Congress to halt the drive toward another unnecessary and calamitous war in the Persian Gulf. More than a half million emails have been sent to officials and we have recently issued a national?August 2nd Call to Action. We urge Advocate readers to take immediate action by visiting StopWarOnIran.org and joining the online petition drive. For more information, please contact us at valleyantiwar@hotmail.com.
Catherine Donaghy
Western Mass. Stop War on Iran Campaign
Not Exactly Mr. Popularity
I don't find it at all surprising that Mayor Sarno will not talk to you ["Silent Dom," June 26, 2008]. I purchased a home in Springfield in February of 2007 and since then regretted my decision. The city is a mess from one end to the other. I listen to Mayor Sarno's podcasts on MassLive and he never seems to answer questions submitted by the citizens of Springfield. I have seen Mayor Sarno on two occasions and both times he ignored my hello. I will not pretend to know how to run a city or how to be a mayor. But I would think it would start with open communication, good or bad. Being able to respond to criticism is a must in a position like mayor.
N. Flamand
Springfield
Sarno defeated (incumbent mayor Charles] Ryan on the trash fee issue. That was his campaign, throwing the bill into the trash. And when elected, the one thing he campaigned on, he doesn't do. What I truly don't understand is that if (a) the trash fee issue was enough to defeat Ryan and (b) the man elected on the promise to repeal it changes his mind upon election, why there isn't at least a major outcry. Had I worked for someone (Sarno) because of this, and he changed his mind, I would be screaming. Sure adjacent cities pay more, but I am thinking like George Bush Sr.'s "read my lips, no new taxes" and how his supporters never forgave him for breaking that promise. So why no outcry? Why no one already running against him in protest?
Ed Cutting
via email
