Admiral Frank Bradley must resign his post and retire | Opinion
Bradley must resign
An open letter to Admiral Frank Bradley: Thank you for your long and loyal service; now you must resign your command and retire. As a combat veteran myself (Army medic, Vietnam, 1970), I recognize all too clearly the awful compromise you struck between your values and those of your civilian commanders.
They are mendacious men who do not understand the difference between ethos and ethics. And they are incompetent for their basic jobs. They are not worthy of your support, nor is the purported mission against “narco-terrorism”. War is not a video game waged by billion-dollar carrier fleets against small speed boats.
You will no doubt be replaced by men (no women) of lesser skill and integrity. That will be a necessary truth until other civilian leaders of this country (i.e. Congress) heed the call of the public that enough is enough. Impeach Hegseth. Clean the Department of Defense’s house. No more murder in our name.
R. Scott Smith, Lake Tapps
Change is in the air
Coast to coast, from New York to Seattle, voters have demonstrated they want leaders who connect environmental reforms to affordability. In Pierce County, two environmentally friendly candidates won election: Anders Ibsen as Tacoma’s incoming mayor and Bryan Yambe for Pierce County Council.
New York’s mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, got elected, in part, by promising electric school buses, green school rooftops, and free mass transit. Here in Pierce County, we’re lucky to have an executive director, Ryan Mello, and County Council committed to the environment. Despite budgetary challenges, they have proposed:
- Increased funding for surface water projects
- Funding for tree canopy projects in Parkland and Spanaway
- Continued movement on salmon recovery projects
- Increased investment in electric vehicles and renewable energy
These steps are worthy of our support! Pierce Countians, let our elected county officials know we care about affordable, clean energy. Change can and does happen when people act.
Sue Lepore and Linda Whipple, University Place
Daylight savings compromise
To roll the clocks back and forth or not to roll back and forth each spring and fall is one part of an issue being debated around the country, ad nauseam. The other part is, if it’s decided to permanently keep one time, which one should that be, which one is best? Standard or daylight savings? There are excellent arguments on all sides. It seems to me that the answer may be in the middle. In the spring, why not roll back the time by one-half hour and keep it that way year-round? That of course raises the question, how would that work with the rest of the world? I’ll leave that to the debaters.
Carla Loekje, Puyallup
Drug boat strikes dubious
Regarding the “drug boat” kills, where is the floating evidence? What is the method of containment of the drugs in these vessels? Usually such containers are somewhat airtight or watertight, and would be scattered in the hundreds all over the surface of the water after the explosion. Where are the vessels or helicopters landing to pick up the proof of evil goods? Normally the authorities are most avid to show off any drug bust loot at evidence for the value of their operation — inviting the press and posting monetary values of the haul. Very curious incurious behavior. Physical proof is usually a very prominent element of crime claims. Didn’t President Bush Sr. pilot a cigarette boat over shoreward Atlantic waters for fun?
Yet I hear no screams of wrongful hits by local residents; no audible claims of innocent family members slain — but who knows what information is being suppressed at either or both ends?
Phil Philbrook, Anderson Island