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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 5, 2008

No More War Resolutions

Years ago, I had a couple of hours with the current Republican nominee for president. At that time, RADM 'Junior' McCain, whom I'd known for some time, asked me if I'd give his son, LT John S. McCain, III, a lift on my flight from Norfolk to Glenview, Ill. I wish I could have five minutes of that three-hour flight to seek his pledge on a paramount national security issue.

I believe Sen. McCain should pledge to the American people that he - as president - will not commit our armed forces into any conflict without passage of a Declaration of War by the U.S. Congress. Our forefathers had it right when they drafted our Constitution. The responsibility was and should remain a clear province of the Congress. They could declare and the president would wage our efforts in war.

The War Powers Act of 1973 was written by an angry Congress. Yet our Tonkin Gulf Resolution as well as prior and subsequent limited military actions prove one point if no other exists. War Power Resolutions are of little more value than the paper they are written on. Our recent experience demonstrates the War Powers Act as a political "cop out." Such resolutions quickly dissolve when the news media institute a body count. And no one reacts to weak-kneeditis more quickly than politicians who tremble at the thought of even a minority opposition to our involvement in a conflict - be it half way around the world or as close as 90 miles from our Florida coastline.

And, I'd suggest to the presidential candidate of my choice, any such Declaration of War must carry at least one condition. If a war is important enough in which to engage, it is important enough to win. Nothing serves that purpose more effectively than insistence on unconditional surrender by the enemy.

Our people in the armed forces serve and often sacrifice their lives or incur lifelong injuries in carrying our colors in battle. John McCain and Barrack Obama owe them this pledge.

J. C. MacKercher

Weeki Wachee

Will We Err In

The Next Election?

Have we been wrong in believing we can choose a good president or even a good member of Congress by all the people?

The German people were fooled before the big war into thinking they had elected a champ as a leader. God help us, but are we going down the same road? This orator could sell bathing suits in Iceland .Are the people supporting him running a quart low or are they in it for the easy tax money? They certainly must know that he and his sorry wife are not suited for the job as president and leading lady.

This has everything to do with experience, brains and what he stands for. Our economy is sinking fast. "We'll soak the rich and raise taxes," is his solution for a bad economy.

Four or five dollar gas? "Great!" he says. "No drilling, and we can get a million cars off the road, fuel our economy with yet-invented fuel and save the poor polar bears!"

Ten years ahead, in the next war, the Arabs will shut off their oil and we will be powering our wonderful airplanes with methane from horse manure! Probably shipped in from a Washington, D.C., source

Earle Perkins

Brooksville

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