Bombs designed to hit targets and spare civilian structures around them

www.vheadline.com Posted: Friday, March 07, 2003 By: Cecil Kirkman

Date: Thu, 06 Mar 2003 19:16:24 -0500 From: Cecil Kirkman cecilkir@cox.net To: Editor@VHeadline.com Subject: Re: VHeadline letter

Dear Editor: Reference the letter from Mr. Steven Hunt: Maybe I missed something or maybe you missed something in mine. I asked Mr. Kaminski to outline just exactly what the US policy should be and to spell out exactly the actions the US should take to be a peace loving and moral nation.

I would ask the same of you. It is easy to criticize ... it is easy to see the faults in others. But facing one's own shortcomings and presenting a better way... positive things ... are not so easy, are they?

But I ask the same from you, Mr. Hunt. Show us a better way. I cannot follow you if all you can do is hate, condemn, and see the bad things of life.

I would like to know the positive things that will occur if I follow your teachings ... is that asking too much?

Also, you are an expert at putting words into other people's mouths and misconstruing what they have to say. I did not ask Mr. Kaminski to leave the country, nor anyone else. I merely said I do not understand why anyone so bitter and unhappy with the country in which they live, would want to stay here and continue to be so unhappy and bitter.

And, as for me leaving, why? I am happy here and proud of my country. Why in God's name would I want to leave just because I disagree with my neighbor on some things?

And please, do not lecture me about the guaranteeing freedom of speech.

You wrote: "By the way -- freedom of expression was not "given" to us by elites; it was won by the little people that put their asses on the line and suffered state sponsored terror. Many people have been imprisoned, thrown out of work, or otherwise persecuted."

Mr. Hunt, you are addressing a man who served in the United States Air Force for over 26 years. I and my family have been shot at, escaped bombings by the skin of our teeth. I have held and consoled my children and explained to them that it was only a few fanatical Moslems that wished us harm.

If you read my bio, you know that I spent over 7 years in the Middle East living and working with Moslems. I married one and we have been together for over 40 years, happily married and have three wonderful boys (well, men now).

Mr. Hunt, I am one of those "little people that put their asses on the line"... for you, Mr. Hunt. I did it for you, that you might live in freedom and say what you want. And I can tell you for sure, I never suffered state-sponsored terror from any government. The vast majority of Moslems that I know (and there are many), are my personal and good friends and they all love America.

As for 90% of the world's population disagreeing and seeing our confrontation with Iraq as a war crime that will see the death of thousands of innocents, forgive me if I doubt your figures. I would be very interested in how you arrived at your figure. Where did you find that figure?

I also wonder this: A little over a week ago, there were mass demonstrations against an Iraqi war held in many cities around the world. Millions of people turned out to demonstrate. It was all coordinated so very well. The gathering and starting points were all predetermined. The route the parade was to take was laid out. At the end, there were stages constructed, loudspeakers and microphones at the ready. In almost every place, celebrities were scheduled to be there.

Famous singers and actors/actresses were present. A well-staged and awe inspiring event. But the whole thing raised certain questions in my mind. Who planned this demonstration? Other demonstrations that well-staged usually take months of planning and preparation ... usually about a year to plan and coordinate. And sponsors ... who sponsored these demonstrations? If the demonstrations are to have any credibility, they need to speak up and tell us stupid, lying Americans who they are.

I cannot agree or follow a group blindly unless I know who they are and what they advocate. I don't really want to know what they are against ... I want to know what they are for. Maybe you know, Mr. Hunt. If you do please let me know. I would appreciate it ... and I mean that sincerely.

Another thing about the demonstrations puzzled me. The official count given in the media, was that over 5 million turned out ... some said 6 million. OK, we know how the media is, don't we, Mr. Hunt. They would not tell us the real number. So let's say there were 10 times as many as the media said ... let's see, take the high figure (6 million), multiply that by 10 and we get 60 million people, right?

Well, every source I can find tells me that the world population is 6 billion. Well, if 60 million were at the demonstrations, where were the other 5 billion, 940 million people?

Of course, we know that the 2 billion people in the great country of China, which is a beacon of light and intelligence and democracy and freedom to the world, does not allow demonstrations unless they are state-sponsored. If you don't believe what happens to those who cross the state in China, ask the poor demonstrators in Tinnamen Square. The ones still alive (few of them) can tell you what happens if you criticize the government there. How would you fare there, Mr. Hunt?

I would suggest that you not live there. Nor Mr. Kaminski. Anyways, I digress. So getting back to my point. Because the 2 billion Chinese are not allowed to demonstrate, let's deduct them from the equation. That leaves 3 billion, 940 million not accounted for. Can you see why I sorta doubt what you say when you tell me 90% of the world's population believes the US is guilty of war crimes.

Did you know, Mr. Hunt, that the United States asked permission from every country ... for permission for our planes to fly over their country, if we needed to?  Did you know that, even though we could fly across most of them with no interference at all if we so desired, we will not do so if they object?

You don't believe me? Well, let me tell you that when I was in the Air Force, I was flying from Turkey to Germany on an Air Force plane. It was a passenger plane with no guns or ammo. The pilot before leaving Istanbul asked permission from Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Austria, and Switzerland for permission to fly over their country. We sat on the plane in Istanbul for over 5 hours waiting for replies. Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Austria denied us permission. So we asked Greece and Italy ... again permission denied. Did we fly over them anyway? No. We  respected their wishes, and we had to fly out of Istanbul, down the Turkish coast to the Mediterranean Sea, around Greece and around Italy and up across France to Frankfurt. ... it was way outta way and took us hours longer.

Does that sound like a country that does not respect other countries, Mr. Hunt?

Our country spends billions of dollars ... billions of dollars, Mr. Hunt, developing guided bombs that can hit with pin-point accuracy. Do you know why, Mr. Hunt?

Most other countries do not spend one dime developing such weapons. Why?

Because, Mr. Hunt, they are designed to hit targets and spare the civilian structures around them. We could build many more daisy cutters and very cheaply bomb buildings in a city and wipe them out if we had no concern for civilian casualties. I know what I am talking about ... I was a part of the planning. I am not telling you what a government told me to say ... I am telling you what I know from first hand experience.

• Yes, civilians do get killed in a war, Mr. Hunt. It is unavoidable. But if America did not care and spend billions, thousands more would be killed than do.

Now do not misunderstand me. I am not telling you to think like I do. I am not telling you to shut up. I put my life on the line, to give you the right to speak up, and say what you believe. So once again, do not put words in my mouth. I disagree with you but I do not tell you to shut up.

It does not bother me that we disagree.  But what does bother me, is the vile words and language you use to attack me ... why? Because you disagree with me.

I put my life on the line for you ...and you (figuratively) spit in my face and call me dirty names. Polite people would say thank you for the thought, but I disagree with you. But I guess to you, you are just telling it like it is, without regard for my feelings. For I am nothing but a stupid, blind idiot who knows nothing.

You wrote: "Mr. Kirkman, you subscribe to the vile patriotism that is blind and morally defunct -- you demand that we obey and not be angry or critical at the gross hypocrisy we see."

Again, you put words in my mouth that I did not utter.

For you see, Mr. Hunt, although I disagree with you, I have never ... and will never demand that you obey and not be angry or critical at the gross hypocrisy that you see.

And I have never and will never tell you to shut up. NEVER.

For the more you talk and the more people you talk to, the more you become your own worst enemy.

Respectively yours, Horace C. Kirkman Cecilkir@cox.net