Foreign Policy
Dear Editor: I was horrified to watch the morning news show American troops and vehicles bombarded with rotten vegetables, potatoes !!! Helpless, frightened ALLIES begged us to stay, angry that we would leave them defenseless, derided, possibly dead. Never had I seen U.S. troops treated as cowards. Born in 1940, I have always been proud to live in a country that heralded and fought for peoples’ rights to freedom throughout the world.
Shame on the Trump administration, shame on the Republican Party, shame on our legislators, to allow the corruption and destruction of U.S. foreign policy and trust in the world by a corrupted businessman and corrupted economic policies. How can they support our world leadership openly trashed by domestic and foreign adversaries?!?!
Our legislators’ silence is a deafening ROAR of complacency and complicity to ignore our global commitments to our allies, to say nothing of their commitment to the Constitution. The agreement signed by Putin and Turkey today and cheered by ISIS and Iran, thumbed its nose at the United States, NATO, Ukraine and Israel. Oct. 22, 2019, will stand as a day of disgrace in this country.
The facts are confessed and admitted as true. We can’t “Get Over It!” Every one of us has to stand up to this unstable and dangerous President before he destroys our country.
Ann Stephenson, Sitka
Climate Crises
Dear Editor: Good news for Alaska and the climate.
An encouraging leap towards finding solutions to the climate crises we’re facing in Alaska and in our country occurred Wednesday, with the launching of the Senate bi-partisan Climate Solutions Caucus! Our own Senator Lisa Murkowski is joining founders Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Michael Braun (R-IN), in this welcomed effort.
This is what Coons and Braun have to say about the purpose of the caucus: “…Our caucus seeks to take the politics out of this important issue. Instead, members will commit to an honest dialogue, through which we can develop solutions that solidify American environmental leadership, promote American workers, and make meaningful progress on protecting our environment.”
Murkowski, who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, will bring her knowledge of the current state of emissions savings technologies to the new caucus: “I think we’ve got a lot to contribute to the conversation just in terms of what’s going on with technologies that are going to help make a difference,” she told reporters from the Washington Examiner.
The group will be limited to a small and equal number of Democratic and Republican members. (Two other democrats, unnamed as yet, are also set to join the caucus.) The founders believe that keeping the group small and equally bi-partisan will allow them to focus, discuss and more easily agree upon potential legislation.
This Caucus is forming at a time when more and more Republicans are joining the climate conversation, which is increasingly focused on solutions. According to a poll by Luntz Global, four out of five of voters (80%) want Congress to put politics aside and reach a bipartisan solution on climate change. This new bipartisan Senate group takes both the approach, and the focus, that Americans want to see.
Please join me in thanking Senator Murkowski for stepping up, speaking out and taking definitive action for Alaska and the country. Call her office at 202-224-6665; email her at www.murkowski.senate.gov/contact/email, or tweet @SenLisaMurkowski.
Here’s a sample script:
‘‘I’m a constituent and a voter. I want to thank Senator Murkowski, for helping to launch the bi-partisan Senate Cliimate Solutions Working Group, and for taking on the challenge of finding effective solutions to the climate crises we’re facing. The time has come for bold action, especially in Alaska, and I’m grateful that the Senator has chosen to lead in this effort.’’
Barb Bingham.
Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Sitka
Climate Solutions Caucus
Dear Editor: I would like all Alaskans to thank Senator Murkowski for joining with other conscientious Senate lawmakers from both political parties in the Climate Solutions Caucus.
Senator Murkowski’s courage and leadership in recognizing the seriousness of the problem we face, and the inappropriateness of framing atmospheric pollution as a partisan issue, is laudable. Our lives, everyone’s lives, will be greatly enhanced as together we find a way to slow and stop anthropogenic climate change. Addressing climate change now will not only improve all of our lives but will avoid tremendous economic cost and human suffering. The work Senator Murkowski has embarked on with this group is of unparalleled importance. Her ability to see through the smoke and build bridges to solutions within this group, and then within the full Senate, will be remembered and celebrated.
Thank you, Senator Murkowski.
Kent Barkhau, Sitka
