St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 20

j---- "i-rr-jrir iirwwia irniiiij B2 ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH EDITORIAL SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2002 ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH FOUNDED BY JOSEPH PULITZER, DECEMBER 12, 1878 I NEXT ON THE oSfep- JOSEPH PULITZER II PUBLISHER 1912-1955 MICHAEL E. PULITZER CHAIRMAN CEO 1993-1998 CHAIRMAN 1999- JOSEPH PULITZER PUBLISHER 1878-1911 JOSEPH PULITZERJR PUBLISHER 1955-1986 CHAIRMAN 1979-1993 TERRANCE C.Z. EGGER PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER MATTHEW G.

KRAMER GENERAL MANAGER ELLEN SOETEBER EDITOR ARNIE ROBBINS MANAGING EDITOR CHRISTINE A BERTELSON EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR 1 know that my retirement will make no difference in its cardinal principles, that it will always fight for progress and reform, never tolerate injustice or corruption, always fight demagogues of all parties, never belong to any party, always oppose privileged classes and public plunderers, never lack sympathy with the poor, always remain devoted to the public welfare, never be satisfied with merely printing news, always be drastically independent, never be afraid to attack wrong, whether by predatory plutocracy or predatory poverty. POST-DISPATCH PLATFORM 0 JOSEPH PULITZER APRIL 10, 1907 OWNED BY ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH LLC. AN AFFILIATE OF PULITZERINC, ROBERT C. WOODWORTH, PRESIDENT AND CEO LETTERS TO THE EDITOR TRANSPORTATION The sins of MoDOT Radical Islam The commentary in the Sept.

10 Post-Dispatch, "American and Muslim, without apology for either" by Arsalan Tariq Iftikhar was one sentence short of being completely convincing. This is the sentence: "I condemn radical Islam." Anyone can say or write that sentence, but it acquires force when said or written by a practicing Muslim. It should be said and written more often. Robert M. Delaney Ballwin The ins and outs of Iraq The root of our problem in the Middle East can be summed up in one word: oil.

Uncap our own oil wells. Pull completely out of that war-torn area where people don't think like we do and cannot be dealt with. If poverty is their problem, it would cost a lot less to send them food rather than bombs. Can our monstrous government possibly be reformed to the extent that it would limit its military affairs to protecting our borders and shores against invasion, lower taxes, end Third-World immigration, get out of other nations' affairs, stop sending our manufacturing base overseas and return to the form of government envisioned by the founders of the Republic? Robert S. Arnold St.

Peters A couple months back, Democratic congressional leader Richard Gephardt was making Watergate-like headlines by asking, "What did the president know and when did he know it?" His implication was that President George W. Bush had advance information about terrorist activity that led to the 911 tragedy and that Bush's failure to act resulted in the loss of some 3,000 lives. Now President Bush is telling us he has information that Iraq's Saddam Hussein is engaged in activities that pose a clear and present threat to the safety and security of Americans at home and abroad. So, Mr. Gephardt, if President Bush fails to act now, then wouldn't he be guilty of the very thing you accused him of not so many months ago? So why are you and other Democrats giving our president such a hard time? Although too, have questions about the need to take out Saddam with military force, one thing is crystal clear: The intent of Gephardt and other divisive Democratic Party leaders is not to protect or defend Americans.

Their mission is to embarrass the president, weaken the administration, defeat Republican congressional candidates this November and regain the White House in 2004. Is that really what being House minority leader is all about? We are at war! This is not a time to put politics above the security of our nation. Get your priorities straight, Mr. Gephardt. This isn't about your personal aspirations or those of your party; it's about the security and stability of our nation.

Dan Dickherber Kirkwood ACCORDING to the book of Leviticus, on Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, the Israelites were to send a goat into the wilderness as a symbolic bearer of the sins of the people. When William Tyndale first translated the Greek and Hebrew biblical texts into English in the early 16th century, he coined the word "scapegoat," which has come to mean one who is blamed or punished for the mistake or sins of others. We offer this little exercise in etymology as a way of noting that on Sept. 6 the day before the beginning of the high holy days that end Monday with Yom Kippur Missouri Gov. Bob Holden journeyed to Springfield and started untying a goat.

Noting the overwhelming defeat Aug. 6 of Proposition the $483 million tax increase for transportation, Gov. Holden called upon the state Highway and Transportation Commission "to take bold action and do what you must to restore trust in MoDOT." What got Mr. Holden's goat, so to speak, was a Sept. 4 letter to the editor in the Post-Dispatch from Henry Hungerbeeler, MoDOT 's director.

Mr. Hungerbeeler defended his department against critics. "MoDOT is still not perfect," he wrote, "but it is far, far better than it is given credit for." Mr. Holden alluded to Mr. Hungerbeeler's comments when he told the highway commission that "recent commentary by MoDOT staff indicates a denial of the real problem at hand and is insulting to the citizens of Missouri.

This is no time for excuses." Mr. Hungerbeeler, 55, a retired Air Force logistics officer and base commander, has not been sent into the wilderness just yet. But Mr. Holden apparently thinks he's found a convenient scapegoat. The problem with that scenario is that MoDOT is a lot leaner and better-run operation since Mr.

Hungerbeeler took over in 1999, charged with cleaning up the mess that MoDOT had gotten itself into beginning in 1992. That was the year of the now infamous 15-year Total Transportation Plan wherein the Highway Commission promised well more than it could ever deliver. When it became apparent that the plan was pie-in-the-sky, dark mutterings began to be heard. Rural legislators accused the Highway Commission and MoDOT of favoring urban interests. Even as a national study ranked Missouri's roads and bridges third-worst in the nation, the grumbling kept any thought of a highway tax increase off the ballot until this year, when it lost by a 3 to 1 margin.

In the meantime, state Auditor Claire Mc-Caskill had released a series of audits noting some wasteful practices within the department. The total amounts were insignificant compared with MoDOT's nearly $1 billion annual budget, but they were indicative of a hide-bound, engineers' culture that is resistant to change. Still, the department has some reason to brag: The Federal Highway Administration reports that MoDOT spends just 3 percent of its budget on administrative costs, fifth lowest among the 50 state highway departments. Missouri Office of Administration records say MoDOT has virtually the same number of employees in 2002 (6,179) as it did 10 years ago Overall growth in other state agencies is 22 percent. Twenty-five years ago, Missouri spent 17 percent of its budget on highways and transportation.

Excluding bond financing, which must be paid back in future years, highways and transportation now account for only 7.5 percent of state spending. Missouri has more miles of roads (32,407) to take care of than all but six states, yet ranks 32nd among states in per capita road spending. Given that disparity, the wonder is Missouri's roads aren't worse. MoDOT is not perfect, but neither is it the reason that the state's roads are in lousy shape. Prop was not perfect, either, but that was the fault of politicians, not highway engineers.

Still, $5 billion over 10 years would have made a big difference. The problem was that after deciding to put it on the ballot, the governor and the legislative leadership walked away. So if Mr. Holden and other MoDOT critics are looking for a scapegoat, they should check the rear-view mirror. Now that President George W.

Bush has announced his administration's intentions before the United Nations, it is well past time for the Congress of the United States to engage this country in a serious debate about the preparations that are being made for a war with Iraq. The political, judicial and moral issues at stake demand the fullest possible public discussion, and I urge Sen. Jean Carnahan and other Democrats to break their silence and to exercise the leadership to help make this happen. W. Andrew Wimmer St.

Louis IRACL Diplomat for a day Every time I hear a low-flying plane I stop what I'm doing for a few seconds and just listen. What if some fanantic has decided to crash into the Records Center or the Arch, or Scott Air Force Base? Not a great chance, but since 911, it pays to keep aware. Eric Mink (Sept. 4 commentary) was wrong in his thinking about us not needing to "see" all the terror of that day repeated on the first anniversary WE NEED TO SEE IT AND REMEMBER! This great country has been invaded by the worst of the worst DO NOT FORGET TOO SOON there are years ahead of 'us it's just too soon to not remember strongly. Patricia D.

Fox Saint Ann We had a Cold War with Russia for over 40 years. Now the president wants to go to war immediately to overthrow Saddam Hussein. We haven't fared well in changing governments. We assisted Fidel Castro in overthrowing Batista. Now we have limited dealings with Castro because of the Cuban vote in Florida but embrace China, which killed many Americans in the Korean War and now adds to our trade deficit.

We subverted the government of Iran and put the shah in power. Iranians overthrew him and held many Americans hostage. We assisted Iraq in its war with Iran, and now we say Saddam is a madman. We helped Afghanistan in its war with Russia and that got us the Taliban. Who knows what a war with Iraq will get us? American troops will have to stay in Iraq for a long time and they will be in danger of being attacked day after day.

Defeating Iraq is not a problem, but what comes after? Raymond Laramie Kirkwood Ride, Sally, ride An article in the Post-Dispatch this past week about the rise in two- and three-car households had a subtext message I cannot toler- ate: "People who take the bus are unsuccessful." Those who take the bus, ride MetroLink, walk, bike or carpool on a regular basis should be proud that they are doing their part to reduce St. Louis' over-de- pendence on automobiles. for one, am proud that I often take the I bus (when I'm not commuting by bike) and that ours is a one-car household with two driving adults. The shame should clearly go to those who regularly drive alone when cleaner, more efficient trans- portation alternatives are avail- able to them. The emissions asso- ciated with their automobile use (including manufacturing, oil re- fining and infrastructure support) contribute heavily to global warm- ing.

Every time they drive they in- crease our dependence on foreign oil, motivating our country to take military action in foreign lands where we have oil interests. Don't wait around for some mir- acle solution (like fuel cells). You'll be holding your breath a long time. Take personal responsi- bility for your actions now by re- ducing your automobile use. David Henry Webster Groves Funerals get no respect I moved here in January from Michigan.

On Sept. 10 I was stopped at the intersection of St. Charles Rock Road and Natural Bridge. As I was sitting there waiting for my light to turn, a fu-neral procession had begun to proceed while the light was green. Where I come from, it is a state law that you must wait for the procession to end before pro- ceeding on in traffic.

I sat at the light when it turned green, giving respect to the fami-ly of the person who had passed away, and I waited for them to continue and follow the proces- sion. The cars next to me just cut in the procession and the cars be- hind me started blowing their horns at me to proceed through the intersection. A lot of people say we're from the Show Me State. On this day, they showed me that they have no respect for a grieving family or the person who has passed away. Karla Rickman Florissant AFTER a day of diplomacy, President George W.

Bush slipped back into his gunslinger mode on Friday, mocking Democrats who want the United Nations to act on Iraq before Congress votes on war. "Democrats waiting for the U.N. to act?" Mr. Bush chuckled on Friday. "I can't imagine an elected.

member of the United States Senate or House of Representatives saying, 'I think I'm going to wait for the United Nations to make a Mr. Bush's political cheap shot may play nicely with the Jesse Helms crowd, but it is no way to lead a nation into war. It suggests that the president sees his diplomatic effort as a mere formality before calling out the troops. Actually, it makes sense for Congress to wait for U.N. action, just as it made sense for Mr.

Bush to go to the United Nations before asking Congress to authorize military force. A war to stop a megalomaniac from using weapons of mass destruction would be a just war. As Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said on Friday, no one wartts to make the same mistake that Europe did in 1939. But a war to disarm Saddam Hussein would only be just if the United States first makes every effort to use diplomacy to disarm him. What that means is this: Mr.

Bush must first persuade the United Nations to pass a resolution giving Iraq a deadline in a matter of weeks for allowing inspectors unfettered access to suspected weapons sites. Then Mr. Bush should jawbone friendly Arab countries to put pressure on Saddam to comply. If Saddam refuses and there is every indication he will Mr. Bush should explain his case for military force to Congress and the world.

He must show why Iraq is an immediate threat; he must have an idea for rebuilding Iraq as a responsible nation; he must convince Congress that a war against Iraq won't hurt the war against terrorism; and he should explain how he will counteract the impression that the United States is at war with the Muslim world. Congress definitely should vote on whether to wage war against Iraq but not until it knows the result of the U.N. efforts and gets more answers from Mr. Bush. In the meantime, Congress may want to pass a resolution of support for Mr.

Bush, or calling for return of weapons inspectors. But it should not yet authorize war. Mr. Bush's over-eagerness to wage war against Iraq has been a problem from the beginning. The trigger-happy threats from administration hawks to take unilateral action frightened off nearly all of our allies and Arab friends.

Mr. Bush's speech to the United Nations had seemed like an important step toward reconciliation. Sadly, it lasted only 24 hours. Now more than ever, it is crucial that the president demonstrate that his internationalism is sincere and not just a pretext for war. f.J.

Some are beating the war drums, and the idea seems appealing to some. I remember a comment that young men are sent to fight and die for old men's wars, and we are heading in that direction. The trouble is that two men with a massive ego seem determined to prove the horror of what war can do with our modern weapons. Our president is seeking allies, which do not seem to be very enthusiastic. The idea of a pre-emptive strike is abhorrent to many of us, though it appears our president and his war hawk allies are obsessed by the idea.

The Bible has wisdom, even though it is concerned with religion. One is, to quote, Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Carlyle Lark Jennings HOME RULE Boss Daly Bush league Is anyone on President George W. Bush's staff brave enough to tell him that "nuclear" is pronounced "nuke-le-er." not "nuke How embarrassing! John J. Archibald Webster Groves for one year before the election, as required by law.

Mr. Murphy lived on Missouri Avenue in the city until last September when he began nine months study in Germany. When he returned in June he took up residence on South Grand Boulevard. Skeptics wonder if Mr. Daly's motives are entirely pure.

If Mr. Murphy gets 5 percent of the votes, the Green Party will be able to field candidates in the city aldermanic elections in the spring. Green candidates wouldn't win. But the Democratic Party's Politburo apparently doesn't want to take a chance on pesky environmentalists challenging the perks of patronage. THE ONE respectable argument that opponents of Home Rule can muster is that St.

Louis' eight county offices are elective, and therefore accountable directly to the people. At least it was their best argument until last week, when License Collector Gregory X. Daly went to-court to get his Green Party opponent off the ballot. Apparently the only kind of ballot that St. Louis' patronage bosses like is the one-parry kind, -j- Mr.

Daly maintains that his only interest is ensuring that his opponent, Jason Murphy, meets all the requirements of office. He says Mr. Murphy has not lived in St. Loyjis Send us a letter for publication Mail: Letters to the Editor, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 900 N.

Tucker St. Louis, MO 63101; Fax: (314) 340-3139; E-Mail: Letters must include name, address and daytime phone number for verification. Addresses and phone numbers will not be published. Letters may be edited for length and clarity, and cannot be returned. f.

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