War

Now that the celebrations of the War of 1812 are under way, it seems that the Sun's message to its readers is clear: Enjoy the celebrations, and ignore the facts ("Commemorating the War of 1812," June 10). But while The Sun's eagerness to celebrate a famous moment in Maryland history is understandable, its continually misrepresenting the historical facts is quite troubling. The headline on an article in the special section about the conflict, for example, called it "America's successful 'second war for independence,'" which is wrong on two counts: First, the war was not successful, and secondly, it was not a war for independence.

Osama bin Laden is dead. This is a great victory for the country. People are celebrating everywhere over his death. He was an evil man who was responsible for thousands of deaths. Bin Laden was in hiding for over a decade with no actual evidence of his whereabouts until yesterday. Although his death is being celebrated, it should also bring us much caution. This man has many followers all over the world, some right here in the U.S. I pray that his death will bring an end to the war, but I fear the retaliation will keep the war going.

The rich (and the Republicans that shill for them) have officially declared war on the poor. ("GOP pressing for budget cuts," Feb. 16) Since the '80s the rich have claimed a larger and larger percentage of wealth in the U.S. But there is never enough for them. God forbid we should end tax breaks for oil companies and wealthy Americans or cut in areas where there is the most waste (defense). Instead, they want to cut aid to the neediest, throw people out of work in a time of high unemployment, and cut funding for research and investment.

In a recent op-ed, columnist Marta H. Mossburg tried to make a paradox out of liberals labeling the conservative effort to restrict reproductive health care for women as a "war on women" while at the same time condemning stay-at-home mothers ("Biology really is destiny," April 25). She is referring, of course, to a single comment by Hilary Rosen about Ann Romney, who happens to be extremely wealthy and, consequently, most likely to have had as much paid help raising her children as she wanted.

While it is commendable that Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates weeps for his dead soldiers ("Gates showing job's toll at end," June 20), his tears are nothing compared to the millions shed by families, and let us not forget the children weeping here and abroad, since the United States went to war in late 2001. If Dick Cheney had not wanted to invade Iraq already by the afternoon of Sept. 11, 2001, and George W. Bush and Barack Obama had glanced at a few history books and thought about Afghanistan in connection with the experiences of Britain, Russia, and even the U.S. there during the last century, perhaps Mr. Gates and the rest of us who grieve would not be weeping now. Laurie Taylor-Mitchell, Towson

The ultimatum by the Obama Administration's Department of Health and Human Services to Christian church groups (and by implication Christian medical personal) to abandon their faith exposes further its increasingly totalitarian pagan character ("Fight over birth control," Jan. 26). This state-against-the-church conflict increasingly resembles aspects of German church history of the 1930s. Until 1934, most German churches supported Chancellor Adolf Hitler'spromise to restore Germany'seconomy and honor.

Thanks to Gilbert Sandler ("It still lives in Infamy," Dec. 7) for reminding us of some of the costs of war in his account of Baltimore after Pearl Harbor. What a contrast with today. Our leaders can carry on wars without affecting most of us one bit. No danger, no draft, no rationing, no tax increase, no blackouts. Only if we serve in the armed forces or have a family member there do we suffer anything. We do not even have to pay for the war - we can borrow to cover the cost. It is almost enjoyable and certainly exciting.

Justin Fenton's article, "2 guilty in drug case linked to cartel" (Feb. 8), plus dozens of previous reports related to the actions of drug cartels on both sides of the Mexican border, are extremely disturbing and disgusting. The distribution and utilization of these drugs by so many Americans is far more damaging to the welfare of our country than some of our global military conflicts when you consider they are actually destroying the hearts and minds of so many of our young people who will be the future foundation of our country.

Attorney GeneralDouglas F. Gansler, the first of the expected Democratic contenders for the 2014 gubernatorial nomination to report his fund-raising totals for last year, now has more than $4 million in the bank after taking in more than $1 million in 2011. Several hours before the filing deadline, Gansler reported that he has almost  $4.1 million on hand. He listed total receipts between Jan. 13, 2011, and Jan. 11, 2012,of $1.2 million. Gansler, who did not have to spend heavily on his re-election bid in 2010, came into the year with $2.9 million.

From The Baltimore Sun: Marine Commandant Gen. James Conway "expects Marines ... to be [in Afghanistan] until 2014 or 2015. " ("Top Marine: Afghan win may take 5 years," Aug. 28). In other words, Gen. Conway thinks we need five more years of spending $119 billion per year, not counting the interest – it's all borrowed – and not counting most of the future cost of treating our injured veterans. So he wants us to spend another $595 billion plus. And exactly what are the chances of success – what is the definition of success?