Bennett superb; ignore others
I have to respond to the letters from Jan. 6 complaining about editorial cartoonist Clay Bennett and the strip Doonesbury.
In my humble opinion, Clay Bennett is one of the finest editorial cartoonists I’ve seen, and proof of that is the fact that his drawings are picked up by other newspapers around the country for his incredible insight to some of our thorniest political issues. I think the Times Free Press is very, very fortunate to have someone of this caliber in our city.
I have a simple solution for grumblers … don’t read them.
Funny … I noticed they did not complain about the ridiculous Mallard Fillmore or the silly Free Press added captions above the cartoon on the right side of the paper. Oh, wait … that was an opinion.
I don’t read Fillmore and I don’t read those silly captions. I suggest the grumblers do the same and leave Mr. Bennett and Doonesbury alone for we folks who like to think.
GARY L. FISHER
Hixson
CIA reductions hard to replace
Ignatius op-ed (Jan. 7) is tip of iceberg. President Clinton reduced CIA manpower 25 percent with remaining 75 percent to be “diverse.” Budgets were cut; then classified to hide reductions. Experience gained over 20 years cannot be replaced easily. Michael Hayden, DCI before Panetta, stated that most of his operatives had less than five years experience.
Was CIA Chief at Khost FOB Chapman product of these earlier diversity efforts — without full evaluation of long term effects? Why would a mother with three children be sent to hotbed of insurgency? Seems it resulted in death of her and those under her command.
Commenting on Khost, Henry A. Crumpton, who led the CIA campaign in Afghanistan in 2001-2, said they were “experienced frontline officers and their knowledge and expertise will be sorely missed” and not easily regenerated. That’s been case for too long.
With Attorney General Eric Holder going after operatives who followed rules in effect at time, more personnel will sit on their hands depending on “informants.” That’s what was going on at FOB Chapman. Who’s going to go our into the cold if reward is jury trial in D.C.?
JOHN A. LYNCH JR.
Whitwell, Tenn.
More shelter needed downtown
Folks who work outside know how to keep warm in these bright but frosty days. Meter readers “keep moving.” Plumbers in crawl spaces grit their teeth as their knees soak up spilled water from burst pipes. Deliverymen keep their sliding doors slammed shut.
Homeless people also have methods of staying warm. Tiny campfires, “keeping moving” along sidewalks, dozing in public buildings. When their days close, however, they often have no warm place to go for the night.
Distressed people stiffened by the cold and with no permanent home were able to sleep in emergency space opened up by Community Kitchen downtown on East 11th Street. We thank God for His providence in allowing us to partner with the Kitchen in providing staff for this endeavor.
I estimate there is at least a 100-bed shortage downtown in normal circumstances. It is probably greater when the weather is bad.
We look very much forward to the day when Union Gospel Mission will again have its own facility downtown to provide emergency shelter for the homeless and needy. It is times like these that extending grace to needy people can have its greatest benefit to them and to our city.
JON RECTOR
Director
Union Gospel Mission