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Letters, 10/5: Thank civilians in Iraq

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Thursday, Oct 05, 2006 - 12:10:51 am CDT

I was a contractor in Iraq from October 2004 'til March 2006 with five months in the states for healing from gunshot wounds.

I was not a mercenary; I did not carry a weapon. I drove trucks and heavy equipment transporters for KBR and was under control of the U.S. Army. I carried an ID card; I was subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice while in Iraq. I was not a war profiteer.

The people who drive convoys and do recovery outside the wire in Iraq are U.S. Army contractors. I was a GS-12.

The people of this country know very little about the civilians who risk their lives to help out in Iraq every day. There are numerous civilians who also have paid the ultimate sacrifice. I know several who will never be the same from wounds received there.  I am one of them.

I want to make sure the public knows what is going on in Iraq.  When the military gives casualty figures, they do not include “civilians.” The Logistics Civil Augmentation Program (logcap) has been going on since World War II. It was going on in Bosnia under President Clinton and was just transferred to Iraq under President Bush.

So the next time you see someone with an Operation Iraqi Freedom shirt or jacket on, tell them thanks, too. They are probably one of those “civilian” veterans from the sandbox.

Wallace McNabb, Lincoln

Senate ads alienating

Subject: E-I-E-I-Oh-My.

There once were two men from Nantucket. Couldn’t fit all their wealth into a bucket. So each spent millions on ads worth peanuts, and now we have thousands of voters saying $#%^&!.

I cannot help but notice the closer to election time we get, the more alienated our candidates (for Senate) seem to appear.

I don’t even remember these boys’ political platform. What are the issues besides Ameritrade, turkeys and unpaid property taxes? Anyone?

Barbara Arendt, Lincoln

Ricketts ad embarrasses

Unbelievable.  During a commercial break in the evening news I saw the cartoon political ad sponsored by Pete Ricketts that depicts Ben Nelson shooting turkeys to the tune of “Old McDonald.”

I’ve seen immature cartoons like this at different Web sites that specialize in political humor, and they can be quite funny, but never imagined that it would get used by a real political candidate or professional who has been hired to run a campaign.

I was filled with embarrassment for the TV station, the news broadcaster who had to follow that interruption with real news, and most of all for Pete Ricketts, who proudly announced at the end that he endorsed this ad.  And I felt discouraged about our entire system of running for political office.

The message of the cartoon was completely lost for me until I had a chance to read about it in the paper the next day.  Anyone who endorses that doesn’t belong in Washington.

Jeff Weber, Denton

Teachers not part time

I am writing this letter in response to Rob Miles’ letter of Sept. 24, “Well-paid part-timers.”

Mr. Miles must not have an educator in his family or household.  If he did, he would understand that teachers are not part-timers as he suggested. He would see how my colleagues and I are working several hours beyond our “contract” hour and then an hour or more after the dinner hour and then a number of hours on the weekend and on “fall, winter and spring breaks.”

Not only do we teach students, but we also have to plan our lessons, help students to be good citizens, help students when they need assistance with medical or other needs, assess students, record the data from the assessments, meet with parents, meet with students, meet and plan with colleagues, make copies of their teaching and learning materials, attend after-school activities, make phone calls to parents, meet with school specialists, attend instructional and staff meetings and plan individual educational plans. 

Oh, and let’s not forget that we attend staff development sessions and college during the summer to better prepare ourselves to be proficient in the classroom.

Does Miles believe that all of these activities can be done in a seven-hour day? We are not paid by the hour but are salaried and paid by the job.  We work until the work is done. 

A 10- or 11-hour day more accurately would reflect the number of hours I spend on an average throughout the year. These hours equate to nearly 52 weeks of a 40-hour week. So much for Miles’ calculation of what he thinks my “lucrative” hourly salary is.  So much for Miles’ thinking that I need to put in even more hours to deserve a “vacation.” Does Miles still believe I am part time?

I would like Mr. Miles to follow me for a week, from the time I leave for school in the morning until my work is done each day. By the way, I went home from school at 3 a.m. and returned at 7:15 a.m. today!

Jennifer Van Winkle, Lincoln

423 not a Nebraska idea

Remember being hit up by petitioners last summer?  Well, where are they now?  More than likely in another state, trying to place issues on someone else’s ballot being financed by yet another fat cat from the East Coast.  I served as a voter educator during the summer, because I care about my community and I care about how outside money and influences affect me as a Nebraskan.

We’ll be heading to the polls in November and asked to make a decision on Initiative 423. Initiative 423 is not a Nebraska grass-roots effort, it’s a bad idea being pushed on us by New York City multimillionaire Howard Rich.

He’s trying the same thing in other states, and the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) has been kicked off the ballot, or hasn’t made it to the ballot, because of fraud in Missouri, Oklahoma, Montana, Michigan and Nevada just this year. Nebraskans just have to look west to see the ill effects of TABOR in Colorado.

Nebraskans can think and act for ourselves. I just have to ask … why do New York City investors want to change our state’s constitution? What’s in it for them? Will they be here next year to feel the effects of their efforts? Of course not, because they aren’t residents of our state. Shouldn’t Nebraskans be the ones to determine what is best for us?

Laurie Fraser, Lincoln


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Ads are Shamefull wrote on October 5, 2006 1:02 am:
" I agree with the comments here about the Ads by both Pete Rickets and Ben Nelson. They BOTH should be ashamed of themselves for wasting that much money on this election. When I think of what that money could have been better spent on It makes me Angry! Both of them owe the Nebraska Public an apology. I refuse to watch the ads anymore and when they come on regardless of the candidate I change the channel. IF there was a 3rd candidate running against these nimrods, I'd be tempted to vote that person in out of spite! I hope someone at the legislature has been paying attention. I think we need some rules of the road regarding Running for Office 101. Don't bash, don't spend millions of dollars, don't abuse the Nebraska public. "

 Wont B. Bullied wrote on October 5, 2006 3:11 am:
" Whining that 423 is an "out of state effort" will get you NO WHERE with me. Any sense of "community" I once felt was obliterated and vanquished when Lincolnites passed a draconian smoking ban. Now it's every man for himself and look out for number #1. "

 Locke wrote on October 5, 2006 6:23 am:
" I am getting tired over the debate of whether teachers are overpaid or underpaid. I agree with a comment on a previous letter that noted that some teachers are probably overpaid and some our underpaid. My problem in the tenure system at public schools such as LPS. Once a teacher has worked for two years in the system and they are offered another contract, they essentially have lifetime employment. The only way to get rid of them is some gross infraction. Of course, this does not include anything about them being a lousy teacher. Hopefully, the poor teachers are weeded out in the first two years, but sadly this is not the case. Of course, once again, I think a large majority of the teachers do a wonderful job. The problem is that their union protects those who do not. "

 Amanada wrote on October 5, 2006 6:31 am:
" If you don't want to be bullied, why would you want to be bullied by a rich guy in New York City? I'm not going to be bullied and let this guy think he can influence my vote, my state with initiative 423 - I'm voting NO. "

 al b wrote on October 5, 2006 7:17 am:
" Mr. McNabb thank you for your service. The senate race has truly turned into a disgrace. Unfortunately it is no more of a disgrace than what is happening nationally. I was definately planning to casting my vote for Mr. Nelson until the National Democrat party launched it campaign of Dirty Tricks. The attack on George Allen, the racist attacks on Mr Steele and now the leaking of selected classified National Security information has changed my mind. I will be crawling over Broken Glass to vote Straight Republican and I urge all Nebraskans to do the same. "

 Hank wrote on October 5, 2006 7:34 am:
" Wallace, we recognize your sacrifice, and we should be more appreciative of all the people who have sacrificed and suffered as a result of our invasion and occupation of Iraq. The 2,736 military deaths through today are just a small part of the huge total death and casualty toll caused by our unjustified and politically motivated invasion of Iraq. Your call for recognition is just a small step toward what true patriots in this country need to wake up to: It is time to not only recognize the sacrifices, but to immediately stop more needless sacrifices, deaths, and permanent mutilations that only serve to further a very sick political agenda by the Bush administration. Peace. "

 John Holmes wrote on October 5, 2006 7:41 am:
" I love how people still complain about the smoking ban and how it has destroyed the community. Get over it. People complain that they cannot smoke at a restaurant they are at for 45 minutes, but can sit at a Nebraska football game for 4 hours and not worry about it. Typical. "

 iconoclast wrote on October 5, 2006 7:46 am:
" To Locke; You are wrong in many ways. Teachers need three years, not two for continuing contract (not tenure- Nebraska public schools DO NOT have tenure) to take effect. If a principal can't tell in three years you're a lousy teacher they don't deserve the pay they are getting. All that NSEA does is ensure that the laws are followed. Administrators are highly paid professionals who must make tough decisions, but that is part of the job. Prior to continuing contract laws, teachers could be fired for absurd reasons like walking on the gym floors with street shoes.(this actually happened in Nebraska) You are correct in that a large minority of teachers do a wonderful job. "

 Josh2 wrote on October 5, 2006 7:59 am:
" What amazes me about the Nelson-Ricketts ads, is that with the drumbeat of complaints throughout the state (and nationally), how neither of them will stop the negative, childish ads. Do they (and their campaign managers) not get it? To me, it is another demonstration how wealthy politicians are out of touch with the average Nebraskan. "

 Al b wrote on October 5, 2006 8:25 am:
" Your noble stand in fighting for George Allen's right to use racial slurs in inspiring. Way to go! Thank goodness you're voting straight ticket for a party that invented the Southern Strategy to lure racist whites, and that is immune to dirty tricks like swift boating decorated army veterans so that brave draft dodgers can get elected instead. Way to take a stand! "

 Congressman Foley wrote on October 5, 2006 8:32 am:
" The Ricketts ad with the turkey reminds me of a few years ago while passing through Arkansas during an election season. That is the same exact type of political ad they run over and over again in Arkansas. If thats not an insult to our intelligence, I dont know what is. "

 Ryan wrote on October 5, 2006 8:40 am:
" Don't try to convince anyone that Nelson is playing dirty. Both are dirty. Vote for the one that represents most of Nebraska. Not just the top 2% of Nebraska. (PS: That'd be Nelson) "

 Jan wrote on October 5, 2006 8:46 am:
" I'm finally starting to see some positive ads from Ben. It's nice to see that he didn't respond to Petes joke with one of his own. I'm voting for Ben. "

 JMK wrote on October 5, 2006 9:28 am:
" Anyone who votes "straight ticket" is not paying attention. This party line is outdated. you need to pick the best qualified person for the job, not by what party they belong to. look at the mess the straight(?) republican party has done to us. open your eyes al b and pay attention "

 E Jr wrote on October 5, 2006 9:56 am:
" I agree with Ads are Shameful. I am writing in Ernie Chambers for U.S. Senator instead of voting for either Nelson or Ricketts. They both should be ashamed of themselves. "

 johninlnk wrote on October 5, 2006 9:58 am:
" I am glad to see others turned off by Rickett's cheap imitation of a Jib-Jab blog. I have yet seen one of his ads that explains why he is qualified to be our Senator. No public servie or elected postions. Being rich and Republcian does not a candidate make! At least Nelson has some ads depicting what he has accomplished or is working on. OH, Nelson isn't perfect, but has done a good job for our State. Ricketts, on the other hand, has done nothing that I can see to be qualified to represent us. "

 ADR wrote on October 5, 2006 10:03 am:
" Civilians should not be placed in the middle of war. That Rumsfeld-Cheney have devised this unsavory role is a sign of military having less control over her soldiers and welfare. Civilians are not soldiers and we should move away from this type of exloitation which dilutes or muddies role of the military and private industry. Ethical integrity is key to what and when our military is engaged in defending the nation, the interests of contracts should not contaminate an immoral action. War is never moral, but when it is necessary the military and not corporations should be the legitimate force of defense. "

 EdK wrote on October 5, 2006 10:15 am:
" School administrators simply assure laws and budgets are followed and implemented. Too highly paid, the task of coordination is over rated and further diluted by having associates and assistants. Administration is a primary area for the LPS Board to look at for RIF action. Teachers could and should be professionals empowered to earn stature and accountability excessive administrations have taken away. LPS and the state are weighed down by disabilities of many forms, ego is perhaps the most alarming. "

 eddie wrote on October 5, 2006 10:34 am:
" I think taxes are too high in Nebraska. I do not care who wanted 423 on the ballot. Laurie and Amanada should address the issues surrounding 423. As it is, they read like shills for the professional educators and others whose livelihoods are dependent on tax dollars and who all see themselves as benefiting if there is no limit placed on how rapidly taxes can be increased. They would be more credible and persuasive if they addressed the issues instead of trying to arouse negative emotions. "

 Martha wrote on October 5, 2006 11:21 am:
" Iconoclast and that group are locked into a mentality of entitlement, often acting as a proxy office for the NEA. LPS School Board members have an opportunity to work with UNL in an interdiscipline fashion to restructure LPS so she functions in a business model in administration matters. Streamlining and extinguishing areas of waste. As citizens and teachers know, too much weight at the top is a sign the base and core values are not the foundation. A leaner LPS, not an obese LPS, is the direction the community can move to for a healthier economy, a healthier tax condition that removes parasites and restores viability. "

 Sandie wrote on October 5, 2006 11:31 am:
" Senate ads may be alienating, but that is even more reason to stand up for new leaders so the old incumbents step out. Reform is a part of legitimate protest that brought hope to religions based on the teachings of Christ. Hagel has called for reformation of Republican positions, where is the same chant on the Democrate side? Neither party has yet reformed, that is not what voters want to see. Is Hahn moving in a new direction? It looks like there is capacity for leadership and change. The present governor of NE is an old loyalist, patriots can revolt against that type who reflects values of George Bush. "

 darren wrote on October 5, 2006 12:03 pm:
" Excellent campaign strategy there Pete. I bet you'll be the first to give someone a swirly in congress. You are an embarrassment to our state and you need to go back and hide behind your daddy and his money and leave the real world to the grown ups. "

 BR wrote on October 5, 2006 12:11 pm:
" There's a TV spot for the "Old MacDonald" commercial now? Just as I was breathing a sigh of relief that I seldom hear it on the radio anymore? Forget about the turkeys; it makes me want to shoot MYSELF. I think I'll write in my dog Stella. I'm sure she's got some good ideas. "

 Chip wrote on October 5, 2006 12:20 pm:
" For all of you who think teachers are overpaid, remember that teachers pay property taxes as well. Let's think about THAT for a moment. Oh, yeah, they get the honor of PAYING PART OF THEIR OWN SALARIES. They get to PAY TO WORK FOR LPS. Give teachers a break! If it is such a lucrative, cushy job, why isn't everybody a teacher? You'd be a fool not to take advantage of such a great opportunity! A job that requires no intelligence or skill, full-time pay for part-time work and a lucrative benefit package, etc . . . Probably no stress either. Tell me why 90% of the population isn't fighting to get into the profession? "

 Jones wrote on October 5, 2006 12:27 pm:
" Smaller government is not achieved when high paid contractors are proxy employees. There was a logistics disconnect between the military and contractors, that is a weakness of Defense not a merit. Rumsfeld has led a dysfunctional reform and created dangerous risks for soldiers and contract workers who both became victims of a failed leadership. Government can do better, but the will of the people must call for change and summon accountability in the polls. Send a message to Congress, call for change by replacing the incumbents who have rubber stamped failed policies and weak administration of the world's most powerful military. Rumsfeld-Fortenberry have emasculated the military, we were once stronger and had greater respect. "

 Chris wrote on October 5, 2006 12:29 pm:
" Shame on those who decided to respond to Wallace McNabb's letter with more tirades on the Bush administration. It would be nice if these folks would have tangible solutions for our problems in Iraq instead of the usual littany against George W. Bush. But many of these folks also had no solutions on how to deal with Saddam Hussein. And they should acknowledge that others like McNabb and our armed forces are risking their lives to bring a brighter future to Iraq. I guess many in our society just don't know what it is like to live in a country where the infrastructure is in shambles, there are no democratic traditions, and you can be killed for what you what believe in. I guess they would rather toss political stones. Americans are trying to do good in Iraq and this should above anything else be appreciated regardless of the faults of those in the White House. Many of us back in the states have completely lost our sense of perspective in this conflict. Some of us simply never had one. "

 Trish wrote on October 5, 2006 12:41 pm:
" After having been subjected to the barrage of negative ads by Nelson and Ricketts, I've had enough and will be writing in Tom Osborne for Senator. Although I disagree with his stands on several topics, I think he is a decent, honest man who has the experience and name recognition, as a write-in candidate, to defeat both of those mudslingers. "

 Theresa wrote on October 5, 2006 1:06 pm:
" I almost feel bad for Ricketts.... if I were him I'd be so embarrassed right now...... "

 Reply wrote on October 5, 2006 1:48 pm:
" The accurate perspective on the Iraq war is that we started it on false pretenses, that we are achieving nothing useful, that we are inciting more terrorism and violence, and that very large numbers of people continue to get killed. The perspective you seem to be urging us to take is based on wishful thinking and complete ignorance of reality. The excuse that Saddam was a bad person does not hold water; there are at least another 25 to 50 such characters in power around the world. We cannot run around starting wars to bring them all down (heck, we can't even control one city in Iraq), and as the continued occupation of Iraq shows so clearly, our inept wars only bring forth even worse thing like ethnic cleansing, religious fanaticism, hatred from those we allegedly benefit (because we don;t really improve anything), and a whole new cast of unsavory characters. Oh, and don't forget the death, mutilations, rapes, torture, destruction. What an accomplishment! As for your criticism of those who criticise Bush, isn't he the one who started this war, lied to us about the reasons for going into the war,and continues to lie to us on a daily basis on how the war is going? I thought the buck stops in the White House. What else can a thinking person do but criticise the president? We can just blindly continue to thank those who get killed and mamed, and you seem to suggest we should urge more to so the same. I think that borders on urging Americans to become suicide bombers. "

 What? wrote on October 5, 2006 1:57 pm:
" A lot of people pay into their salaries like Water System employees (still get a water bill), Postal employees (still need a stamp to mail things), electric employees still get an electric bill, the IRS employees have to pay income taxes, the person that owns the grocery store still has to pay for food - see what I mean? The list goes on and on. At the same time I want to point out that I do not think that teachers are overpaid and I'm ever so thankful for all they do for our children. "

 Logic wrote on October 5, 2006 2:15 pm:
" Anybody see a pattern here? All firefighters are not guilty for discrepancies found within the LFD. All teachers are not guilty for a 14,000.00 tax paid vacation to Hawaii. All soldiers (or Iraqis or Muslims) are not guilty for mistakes made by Saddam. All Republicans are not guilty for mistakes made by Mark Foley. So interesting how the entities guilty of the infractions are not held responsible and so many people who have nothing to do with it get dragged through the blogging mud. Logic not opinion and emotion! "

 reality bites wrote on October 5, 2006 2:37 pm:
" I love how voters always get righteously indignant and wail about negative campaigning and how it's alienating voters. That's bunk. Everyone from John McCain to John Kerry knows that negative campaigns work, and the only way to counter a negative hit is to swing back -- hard. Kerry and McCain learned it too late. I for one am glad Nelson has enough of a war chest to meet this garden-variety GOP sleaze campaign head-on. The more time Ricketts has to spend playing defense, the less time he has to drag the election further into the gutter. "

 Luke wrote on October 5, 2006 2:40 pm:
" What is with you people and your "rich guy from NYC" line? Maybe, like most rich people, he worked hard, got educated and, when combined with his intelligence, earned lots of money! Oh the horror. Imagine that, someone striving for great personal accomplishments! Not only that, but why is is so hard to imagine a man who wants to see an America of more limited government, like it was for so long? Did you ever consider that THAT might be what he wants? You people are simply being intellectually dishonest. You don't know enough about the man to be able to rationally judge him as being bad, but you do so anyway most likely in order to preserve some government program that you favor (that is funded by money that the government steals from others - myslef included). Well, I for one, am glad that there is some rich guy in NYC who is actually DOING something. Nobody here seems to be. "

 Oh, another... wrote on October 5, 2006 2:49 pm:
" ... typical "the government is stealing from me" line. Please ... there are no self-made men. Anyone with a fortune in this country today has taken advantage of the infrastructure built by everyone's tax dollars, so enough of the economic liberty, anyone-can-be-a-millionaire-with-a-just-little-elbow-grease myth. We ALL contribute to the common wealth. Taxes are our membership fees for this exclusive club we're lucky enough to live in. Or do you want to pave your own roads, build your own schools and universities and recruit and pay for your own personal army for protection? They have names for people like that in third-world countries -- warlords.

Good grief. The depths of bitterness of the anti-tax zealots is truly astounding sometimes. Is it just me or do these people not realize that this country was founded on common wealth values? Or are those first states' official names, like, y'know, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, just a weird coincidence?
"

 Jody P. wrote on October 5, 2006 3:56 pm:
" Someone here said there are "no self-made men". So you're saying that there's nothing that Warren Buffet or Bill Gates did that you didn't do? Are you also saying that our money isn't really ours, and that the "commonwealth" has a right to as much of our money as it wants? Hmmm, isn't there another word for that, like c-o-m-m-u-n-something? "

 BFrank wrote on October 5, 2006 5:21 pm:
" Patriots stood up against the British and found rebellion against the excessive tea tax a common concern. Wealth distribution and taxation are very different in form and substance. Good grief, excessive role of government is not a common or shared value of Americans ; patriots have fought against loyalists and injustices associated with Kings and their oppressive tactics. "

 Scott wrote on October 5, 2006 7:38 pm:
" 423 will have a terrible effect on the lives of all Nebraskans. The money that is squeezed will need to be made up somewhere unless you have the secret to keeping the cost of health care, infrastructure and public services at zero. If that is the case, you really need to tell the nation how it will be accomplished. 423 is an outgrowth of a political philosophy espoused not only by Howard Rich, but also by lobbyists like Grover Norquist whose notion of government is to shrink it down to the point where he can drown it in the bathtub (his words, not mine). I sincerely hope that we are not foolhardy enough to follow in the misguided footsteps of the people of Colorado. TABOR has been such a hit in that state. It's not a matter of this coming out of New York, it's more a matter of the agenda that it wishes to forward. If you don't believe me, follow the money. How much has come from the Americans for Limited Government? How much from Mr. Rich? Then look at how much has come from Nebraska and Nebraskans. Why would someone dump that kind of money into a ballot initiative? I doubt that this is a case of altruism. Sorry to be cynical, but we should be on this one. "

 Reply: Logic wrote on October 5, 2006 9:36 pm:
" Just to clarify... that "$14,000 tax paid teacher vacation to Hawaii" NEVER HAPPENED!!!! I know the media in this state won't bother to research the facts... but... at a school board meeting, there was some discussion of something along these lines, but it quickly ended. However, it ended up in the meeting minutes. THAT is what Kate Witek is basing her attack on Class 1 schools on... Witek is on a tear to tarnish Class 1's because the Class 1 proponents in large part cost her and Osborne the Republican primary because T.O. did some Class 1 school bashing. That is what this is about... pure political revenge. Aside from that, I can't understand why, after her recent political manuevers to change parties to keep her job, any one in this state (including the media) takes her seriously. "

 JT wrote on October 5, 2006 9:43 pm:
" Colonists revolted because they were taxed without representation, not because the taxes were excessive. Just a question on Ricketts, would a really intelligent person endorse those cartoon commercials? "

 JAC wrote on October 6, 2006 4:30 pm:
" Petey boy's Old MacDonald parody is digusting. I mute the TV when it comes on. Any though I had about voting for Petey and his stupid orange hat went out the window with that ad. If he were running for local dog catcher, I'd vote for the dog. "

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