Has Bush found his U.S. Grant?

To the editor:

As the early years of the Civil War raged, American public support waned. Demoralized by heavy casualties, particularly at Gettysburg, some Northerners supported allowing the Confederacy to go its own way, essentially abandoning the slaves to their fate and consigning the United States of America to a historical footnote.

President Abraham Lincoln would have none of it.

A major factor in the war’s longevity was Lincoln’s difficulty in finding a commanding general who could help develop a winning strategy and see it through. It was not until after a succession of underachieving commanders that Mr. Lincoln happened to pick Gen. Ulysses S. Grant to command the Union forces. Gen. Grant’s subsequent victory plan and his execution thereof turned the tide in the North’s favor.

President George W. Bush finds himself at a similar historical nexus. The American people, dispirited by the continued loss of life, have turned against his war. He, too, has been plagued by generals who cannot get the job done.

It now seems that Mr. Bush may have finally caught a break. His selection of Gen. David Petraeus to lead the American effort may be paying off. Gen. Petraeus’ utilization of the surge strategy and his innovative engagement with the Sunnis in the fight against al-Qaida, by most accounts, are showing tangible results. Could it be that in Gen. Petraeus, Mr. Bush has found his Grant, and the momentum will shift?

Unfortunately for Gen. Petraeus, the current political climate does not afford him much time to succeed. Lincoln and Grant prevailed. The jury is still out on Mr. Bush et al.

E. MANUEL ALAMO

NORTH LAS VEGAS

Helping out

To the editor:

As Labor Day rolls around again, I want to remind the generous and caring people of Las Vegas to do what they have done so magnificently for over four decades: Support my MDA Telethon.

This summer, as in the past, more than 4,000 young people with neuromuscular diseases were able to enjoy a week of summer camp at more than 90 Muscular Dystrophy Association camps across the country. In Lake Tahoe, 55 children attended the Nevada State 4-H Camp.

This year, thousands of adults and children with sometimes devastating and frightening neuromuscular diseases received care by top health professionals at 225 hospital-affiliated clinics that MDA supports. In Las Vegas, the clinic is held at UMC Enterprise Quick Care.

So, join us Sept. 2 and 3 on KTNV-TV, Channel 13, or on the Internet at mda.org, and help with what you can.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

JERRY LEWIS

LAS VEGAS

THE WRITER IS NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF THE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY ASSOCIATION.

Tent city

To the editor:

Since Clark County and Las Vegas say they are running out of room to house prisoners, why not build a tent city for the prisoners like they’ve done down in Arizona? It would be a lot cheaper.

After it is up and running, maybe the inmates would not want to come back.

ALAN D. COFFIN

HENDERSON

Illegal talk

To the editor:

Sean Whaley’s Aug. 14 report from Carson City revealed Gov. Jim Gibbons’ true disregard for the well-being of the people of Nevada as opposed to the enrichment of the special-interest groups he represents.

He says his attempts to meet with Mexican officials and discuss a program for the Mexican government to provide financial assistance for medical care for Mexican nationals (legal or illegal) may help Nevada taxpayers with the cost of providing health care to illegal immigrants. His answer to the question: Would such a program be supportive of illegal immigration? “My interest is in saving state tax dollars.”

It might save tax dollars, but the beneficiaries of such a program would primarily be the special-interest groups: casinos and the hospitality and construction industries. Nevada citizens would be confronted with hordes of illegals in hospital emergency rooms and doctors’ waiting rooms. It would put an overwhelming load on a health care system that is already overloaded.

Then there’s the statement made by Brent Boynton, communications director for Gov. Gibbons: “The governor has no plans to call a special session of the Legislature in order to comply with a request from the Bush administration to provide Department of Motor Vehicles data to check for illegal immigrants.”

According to DMV officials, state law would have to be changes to allow such information sharing. That would require action by the Legislature and lawmakers, who won’t meet again until 2009. As I see it, our present state law — or lack of it — pretty much protects any illegal using a counterfeit or stolen identification from apprehension.

ANTHONY MARINELLI

LAS VEGAS