LETTERS: President’s prisoner swap treasonous

To the editor:

Treason is commonly defined as giving aid and comfort to enemies of the United States. If trading five of the most violent leaders of the Taliban for one alleged American military deserter — Bowe Bergdahl — doesn’t give aid and comfort to one of our enemies, then nothing would ever meet that definition.

To obtain a conviction for treason, the Constitution requires the testimony of at least two witnesses. In this case, half of the world’s population could testify. It seems the only thing worse than having a U.S. president commit treason is having a cowardly Congress that won’t obey the Constitution it was sworn to uphold.

JOHN FRIDELL

HENDERSON

Battlefield deserters

To the editor:

My how times have changed. I served in Europe during World War II, and back then, battlefield deserters could face execution. Now we have Bowe Bergdahl, a battlefield deserter — as alleged by members of his own unit — who is made a national hero, with his parents honored by the president of the United States.

This is beyond my comprehension.

GEORGE HAUSHAHN

LAS VEGAS

Senseless deaths

To the editor:

My family wishes to thank Las Vegas police officers Alyn Beck and Igor Soldo for their service to the citizens of Clark County. They died a senseless death, murdered by a couple of misguided punks who did not have the courage to face these good men, who were only doing their job. Two fine police officers died at the hands of cowards.

Killing innocent people, for whatever your beliefs may be, is beyond stupid. It only hurts the killers’ cause, because people now know that their way of life was death. Thank all police officers and military men and women. Semper Fi.

LARRY KEPLER

MESQUITE

Culinary deals

To the editor:

Culinary Local 226 once again extorted the downtown casinos into a five-year contract. The Golden Gate, the last property to reach an agreement, should have told the Culinary people to take a hike.

The Culinary people say they want these contracts so their members can provide for their families. Then, in the next breath, they say the pressure on the casinos is so that the union can get new members to join.

The Culinary workers are paid a decent salary, but each contract is a “give me more, give me more” thing. They demand cost-of-living increases, health benefits and lucrative pensions. If they don’t get what they want, they picket, scream and use vulgar language toward tourists and locals alike. They constantly go on the Internet and badmouth nonunion hotel-casinos, especially Station Casinos. The rest of the hotels on and off the Strip should take a page from Station and refuse to buckle under.

I say let these Culinary workers go on strike. Remember the Frontier battle that lasted six years? During that strike, the union pulled its harassing tactics on the visitors and locals, but lost. Only after the Frontier sold was there any type of agreement. Let the union use the millions of dollars in its slush fund to pay picketers for years. It will serve them right to deplete the fund.

I suggest that the casinos get a backbone in the future and say no to the Culinary’s demands. I submit that there will be thousands of people standing in line to fill the positions at the casinos. Look at the thousands of restaurants and bars in Las Vegas that are not using Culinary workers. Most of those restaurants pay a decent wage, offer time off and a 401(k) retirement. Hotel-casino companies here need to wake up. They really don’t need the Culinary’s threats and intimidation. Hire nonunion people.

BRADLEY KUHNS

LAS VEGAS

Iraq mirrors Vietnam

To the editor:

Once upon a time, the United States fought in a war in which we shouldn’t have become involved. More than 58,000 Americans perished in it, and over time, the enemy took control of the nation that was being fought over.

More recently, 4,800 or so Americans perished in another war in which the United States should never have become involved. It seems that once again, the enemy will gain control of that nation, which is also soaked with American blood. It’s deja vu.

“Iraq” must be Arabic for “Vietnam.”

ROBERT BENCIVENGA

HENDERSON