Bush lied to Democrats on Iraq

To the editor:

I read with great interest your April 15 editorial, "Nuke danger." I was totally amazed. I have never read so much garbage in my entire life. Even in the Review-Journal.

First of all, the reason the leaders in Congress approved the invasion of Iraq were the half-truths and outright lies by the Bush administration. There were no weapons of mass destruction and no al-Qaida in Iraq prior to the invasion. Even Dick Cheney admitted there was no al-Qaida prior to our invasion.

Remember the phrases, "We will be treated as liberators," and, "Iraqi oil will pay for the war"? Then there's the one I like best, "Mission accomplished."

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was advised that he did not have enough troops on the ground to win the war and secure the country. He then replaced the first general that told him this and was proved wrong in doing so as the country came close to civil war because there weren't enough troops to secure the country. They started to get a handle on things with "the surge," which was nothing more than sending the troops that were requested in the first place.

Finally, the reason we still have troops dying in Afghanistan is because the war was so badly handled during the first eight years.

Iraq was no threat to the United States. If we had not gone after its oil, we could have used those troops to possibly capture or kill the people actually responsible for the 9/11 attack.

I know the Review-Journal leans toward the right, but I think you are doing a great disservice by failing to print the whole truth and letting people forget who actually got us into this mess.

James O'Connor

Henderson

Bank fees

To the editor:

In response to John L. Smith's April 4 column, "Wells Fargo debit fees a slap to the unemployed":

Mr. Smith was too critical of Wells Fargo when criticizing the fees it charges to the unemployed, who have a bank debit card issued through the state Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation.

The bank is providing a good service. It is a business, and there should be fees associated with it. The bank should not be expected to manage an individual's finances.

Mr. Smith mentioned these fees as $1.25 per withdrawal after the first two, cash advance fees of $1.25 and charging 50 cents for ATM info after getting one for free. Losing your card will cost you $5 for a replacement. These fees are pretty standard for debit cards at most banks. My bank charges, similarly and I make sure I work within those guidelines.

It seems to me that these unemployed residents are not managing these funds very well. Just because you are unemployed doesn't mean you shouldn't be accountable for your money. If you can't manage your finances, you should be expected to pay the fees.

KAREN SHELTON

LAS VEGAS

GOP infighting

To the editor:

The April 7 Review-Journal article, "Heller says Ensign's troubles may be hurting Republican candidates," surely indicates that the Grand Old Party is intent on throwing one of its own under the bus. Both Rep. Dean Heller and former local party officials have publicly attacked Sen. John Ensign and even called for him to resign.

Interestingly, these attacks are not based upon the senator's representation of his constituents or his discharge of his duties. They are predicated upon his vulnerability to partisan attacks involving his personal life. Although Sen. Ensign has admitted an extramarital affair and clumsy efforts to avoid publicity, Rep. Heller apparently wants full public disclosure of all the salacious facts.

Unless Rep. Heller has an ulterior motive, such as launching an effort to replace the senator, his statements disclose an incredible degree of naivete and ignorance. Sen. Ensign is being investigated by the Senate Ethics Committee as well as a hostile, partisan Justice Department. Universal legal advice to such a client would have him refuse related interviews, especially media exposure.

Anyone who is honest and has a scintilla of common sense knows the senator cannot publicly discuss these matters.

The intrigue and deceptions of these political parties are astounding. Anyone for tea?

JOHN TOBIN

LAS VEGAS

Capitalist tools

To the editor:

Oh yes, please. Let's elect another conservative/Republican governor. Or let's elect another conservative/Republican senator. The last ones worked out so well.

We don't have enough people in our state or Washington who are willing to bend over backward for the wealthy or big business. Money is power -- having it buys more access to "justice." Maybe more conservatives could find a way to make trade more "free" -- you can never export too many jobs. Perhaps they can find a way to lower taxes on huge transnational corporations, such as ExxonMobil, that aren't required to pay taxes anyway.

It seems as if all that is needed are more Tea Party sheep to mislead, lie to and manipulate, to make this a dream world for the wealthy and corporations.

Perhaps all these individuals who are so against taxes and "socialism" will now swear to stop using all of those services supported by taxes. Stop using those "socialistic" services, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security. Take a stand on principle and reject that which you're so against. If you're being robbed, don't call the police. House burning? Put it out yourself. Be that strong independent individual you think you are. Go it alone.

Oh, and if you need to get somewhere, don't use the roads built with tax dollars.

You folks are nothing more than tools of the rich, who seek to continue to have an unfair advantage over working people. If you keep voting against your own best interests, you must be crazy.

Joseph Hall

Las Vegas