Are we in Afghanistan to win it, or not?

To the editor:

Jonathan Landay's front-page article in the Wednesday edition of the Review-Journal was beyond disturbing. He recounts the ambush of Afghani troops and their American Marine and Army trainers, who were sent into a hazardous area within Kunar province.

According to Mr. Landay, the ambush commenced as the troops approached Ganjgal village immediately following the village's lights being extinguished. When Army Capt. Will Swenson called for fire support, he was refused "to avoid civilian casualties." Apparently, command had not anticipated a need for support even though Kunar province has proved itself a dangerous place for coalition forces to be. Command was advised that the insurgents were on the hillside and not in the village but no fire support was forthcoming. It took 15 minutes before white phosphorus smoke was placed on target to permit troop withdrawal.

In 22-plus years of military service, I experienced instances of command idiocy. In this situation, the decision to launch without providing for possible air or fire support was irresponsible. Conditions within the eastern provinces are such that planning for support to accompany any troop commitment should be a given. If air or fire support is unavailable, scratch the mission.

The insurgents' leader bragged that they would do to us "as we did to the Russians." Why should we cooperate by repeating the Russian mistakes?

Commit or get out.

William F. Brennan

LAS VEGAS

Cuss word

To the editor:

I am concerned about the decision to publish the Ted Rall editorial cartoon that included the derogatory reference to Jesus Christ (Thursday commentary page). Although the comic referenced big business, I would think that the Review-Journal wouldn't allow an offensive cuss word to be published. So why this one?

Raymond LeBoeuf

LAS VEGAS

District miracle

To the editor:

In response to Sunday's article, "Mother fights to get autistic child's tuition":

Thank you very much for highlighting a piece of the complex puzzle of dealing with the education of autistic children.

As the grandfather and caretaker of a 5-year-old grandson who is a high-functioning autistic and developmentally challenged, I share the concerns of those who were quoted in the article, but I do not agree with them and their lack of confidence in and their criticism of the Clark County School District.

Like them, my daughter, my wife and I had little hope of much, if anything, good coming from enrolling my grandson in the preschool special education classes. This was a very troubled and much of the time out-of-control child who was so irrational, off the wall, demanding and unpredictable it was heartbreaking to watch and exhausting to endure.

It was month after month of screaming fits, temper tantrums, throwing things, breaking everything in sight, endless fixations on such things as fire hydrants, toilet plungers, vacuum cleaners and swirling water. Social skills were nonexistent and the absence of empathy was terrifying.

When he was 3 years old, he had calmed down a bit and we enrolled him in a private preschool for three half-days a week, but not before advising the school of his problems. They worked with us and he progressed in the area of social skills, although at 3 he was placed in the class with 2-year-olds.

In the meantime, we took him for analysis by the special education department of the Clark County School District and, despite the fact he had been diagnosed by at least two doctors who specialize in autism as being on the autism spectrum, the school district refused to accept those opinions. They said their tests said he was simply developmentally challenged.

We objected because we felt a wrong diagnosis would put him on a track from which he could never get away and get the help he needed. A lot of meetings and negotiations went on after that and we finally reached an agreement with which we and the school district could live. They had their diagnosis and we had ours, but they permitted us to not sign off on either, which was something they had demanded in the beginning.

There was no signature trapping my grandson anywhere and he began his special pre-kindergarten education.

He is now almost two years into the program, has just begun kindergarten, and the results have been nothing short of miraculous. In fact, he has progressed so much under the guidance of the school district, he is going to school all day long, spending the first half of the day in a regular kindergarten class, and doing quite well, and is in special education kindergarten in the afternoon to work on his areas of weakness.

The Clark County School District gets more than its share of criticism, but I want to go on the record as saying it has an outstanding special education program that is staffed by compassionate and caring teachers and aides that absolutely give their all to the students.

Kelso Sturgeon

HENDERSON

Boo, hiss

To the editor:

In a recent letter ("Inexcusable outburst," Friday) writer Joseph Wild characterizes Rep. Joe Wilson's display of emotion during President Obama's Wednesday speech to Congress as disgusting.

I agree it was in bad taste.

Now that we concur, will all Obama supporters who are of the same mind please stand up and (belatedly) condemn the booing, heckling and jeering that took place during President Bush's 2004 and 2005 State of the Union addresses?

ELLEN SHAW

HENDERSON

Dumbing down

To the editor:

The letter by Phyllis Rosenburg in Friday's Review-Journal is a perfect example of the negative effect that the government's rhetoric has on logical thinking and proves that the "dumbing down" of America has succeeded.

First misstatement: Veterans accept free health care or medication.

The benefits are not free -- we've earned them. We contracted with the government to provide a service for a specific period of time and, in return, we would receive certain benefits. I wonder if the veterans who paid the ultimate sacrifice or those who came back from a "police-action" dismembered or mentally scarred consider their benefits free?

Second misstatement: Accepting government help through Social Security and Medicare?

Although I am eligible for the former but not the latter, I will not be accepting government help or assistance. I will be receiving monies I had earned but had taken out of my paycheck involuntarily.

We do have common ground, Ms. Rosenburg. This country is in dire need of health care reform. Where we differ is how those reforms should come about. Since you believe it is the government that should provide that service, let us briefly look at the other government programs.

Income taxes were imposed on us to close the gap between the rich and poor. Failed. The war on drugs? Failed. The war on illiteracy? Failed. Protecting our borders from illegals? Failed. Social Security and Medicare will soon be broke -- the only disagreement is when. Other government program failures are far to numerous to be listed here.

Now the latest administration is telling the public that its health care system will be funded by cost savings within the existing system.

I don't know how to tell you this, Ms. Rosenburg, but there is no Santa Claus.

Michael A. Donnelly

LAS VEGAS