Correspondence

0 Comments | Insight on the News, Oct 22, 2001

Bush Speech in the Wake of Tragedy Draws Rave Reviews

Let me begin by saying that I am most thankful that the president of the United States of America is George W. Bush.

His presentation to the joint session of Congress on Sept. 20 was what I would expect from a man of his stature. He said it like it had to be said -- there were words of comfort, words of praise and words of engagement with the terrorist enemies, wherever they are.

Ralph Leisten Fond du Lac, Wis.

President Bush's speech was an excellent mix of empathy and anger. I was especially pleased that he made it clear that the al-Qaeda principals were all to be turned over to U.S. control. It was a great rallying speech for the country, and it's nice to have a president who is not afraid to invoke the authority of God in a sincere way.

My most vivid memory of the presentation, however, was the look of complete and utter disdain and arrogance on the face of Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) whenever the camera focused on her. I hope the people of New York were watching. I was amazed that the commentators never commented on it. We need to send her on her way. God bless America!

Phillip L. Crouthamel Seven Springs, N.C.

Arming Airline Pilots Might Prevent More Hijackings

Could guns in the cockpits of airplanes have saved five lives, 25 lives or 5,000 lives? An armed sky marshal could be just as vulnerable to three hijackers as any passenger. The last line of defense should be a weapon available to the pilot.

Dale Loudermilk Retired Air-Traffic Controller Via the Internet

`Environmental' Policies Handcuff U.S. Steel Industry

Your article about industries vital to our country's national defense ["U.S. in Steel Trap," Sept. 17] failed to mention a very significant factor regarding the U.S. steel industry. For more than 20 years the U.S. government has engaged in policies designed to eliminate all domestic natural-resource-based industries. A recent Wall Street Journal article described this as "rural cleansing."

Timber products from federal lands have been reduced by 75 percent. One of the largest and highest-quality coal deposits known to man lies beneath the recently designated Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Several years ago the management of Echo Bay Mines announced it no longer would spend mineral-exploration dollars in the United States unless it had the potential to support existing operations. Most of our land with potential for discovery and production of oil and natural gas has been placed off-limits.

In the case of the steel industry, we promulgate environmental and pollution laws designed to drive domestic producers out of business. Then we turn around and attempt to justify saving this industry with taxpayer dollars on the basis that it is essential to our national security. The steel industry already is faced with depletion of high-grade ore reserves. It has offset this through technology, innovation and the competitive advantage of operating nearer to the market.

The most cost-effective fuel for a blast furnace is coal. The "stone" your report mentions is limestone. When heated in a blast furnace the chemical by-product of limestone is carbon-dioxide gas. Coal and carbon dioxide are pariahs to the Environmental Protection Agency and other government agencies that regulate steel producers.

I submit that "dumping" of steel by foreign producers is a minor problem and, if the allegation is valid, cannot be sustained in a free marketplace. The real problem for domestic steel producers is that most of their foreign competitors are willing to do cost-benefit analyses and place the needs of humans above those of owls, rats, salamanders and flower-sucking flies.

John W. Helphrey Apple Valley, Calif.

Write: Insight, Correspondence Editor, 3600 New York Ave. N.E., Washington, DC 20002. E-mail: editor@insightmag.com. Fax: (202) 529-2484. Please include an address and daytime phone number. Letters may be edited for space.