Why worry?

I don't see what we are all so worried about, with this Syria story. Didn't the man say he knew everything there was to know about ISIS?

So what, if we've lost Kelly and Mattis and Brennan (and several other famous American military men - I can't remember all who were slated and honored to hold those positions); didn't the president say he knew more than all the generals in the country - or in the world? So, if he knew more than all the generals. as he said, and if he knew all about ISIS more than everyone else, what are we worried about?

He wouldn't lie, would he? He's never lied before, has he?

Frank Sears

Buffalo Grove

The climate hoax

Kudos to Tom Schreiner and his letter entitled "climate change predated man," This should be required reading in every school in America.

No one ever mentions the ice ages when discussing global warming. Today's liberal scientists ignore what has happened over the last million years only to focus on the last 70. When they can conclusively prove what percentage is caused by man as compared to Mother Nature, then we can listen to them. Otherwise, it is truly a hoax and no wonder the major polluters, China and India, are never part of the solution.

W. Brand Bobosky

Naperville

It's right to end 'perpetual war'

After 17 years of murder, mayhem, $6 trillion and utter failure in the Middle East, one would surmise a groundswell of relief and support for the president's decision to withdraw all troops from Syria and half the 14,000 in Afghanistan.

Yet, throughout Congress, the military and mainstream media there has been an avalanche of hysterical opposition from the entire left-right political spectrum. The most impassioned supporters of perpetual war on the right like Sen. Lindsay Graham have been joined by otherwise progressive Democrats like Sen. Chris Coons to argue for continued, that means endless, occupation. Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, CBS and ABC all trotted out their military and political commentators to trash the move as rash, un-vetted by our allies and the U.S. establishment alike.

Anti-war critics, as usual, were largely ignored. What we're witnessing is the full frontal nudity of the U.S. war party desperately trying to hang on to perpetual war which has made them rich and powerful. The president violated their cardinal rule to never withdraw from a perpetual war zone.

His predecessor ended ground operations in Iraq and Afghanistan but left a contingent force of "advisers" giving the lie to ending U.S. military footprints there. Perpetual war is good for war-party business. Consider U.S. bomb makers who have supplied nearly 300,000 bombs dropped on the Middle East and Africa since 2001, helping kill about a hundred times more people than bad guys largely from and supported by our best weapons customer Saudi Arabia did on 911.

Getting out of one and possibly two of the many countries we defile with our bombs and our troops is the most important goal of the current initiative. Exposing the extent and ferocity of the war party which thrives on secrecy is a worthy side benefit.

Walt Zlotow

Glen Ellyn

Stop forcing beliefs on us

It didn't take long for the left to get re-energized from the recent House victory. Just the other evening, Jimmy Kimmel was throwing stones from "left" field at the folks who have chosen to fund a southern border wall. In short, he indirectly referred to these citizens as uneducated meth-heads.

Here is something for Kimmel and all folks with the same opinions. Half the citizenry (non-drug heads! educated!) is sick and tired of a single-minded, high-and-mighty, holier-than-thou, judgmental, insulting and money-grabbing approach to governance in this country. They, also, are sick of a political class (state and federal) that looks at the citizenry as lemmings to be herded while accomplishing nothing. Additionally, they don't need you or a personality of fame to tell them how to think.

Stop the incessant political pursuit of forcing your beliefs/ideologies down everyone's throat and garnishing other's money to accomplish them. Leave the different minded folks alone. It's their choice. Singularity of thought is not a requirement in this country.

If you are such a strong believer (heart, soul and mind) in a more liberal society, then, like the wall contributors, shut your traps and invest your personal nonpolitical time and money to address your agenda. Do it on your own.

Immigration, how many immigrants have you personally sponsored and taken full responsibility for? Base incomes, how much have you donated to this effort? Upper education for all, where is the 501c3 so that you and the like-minded can contribute? Health insurance for the non-covered, where is the not-for-profit for that? Is this too much work and commitment for something in which you believe?

Hummm … Let's see the outcomes. Your social issues addressed. Insults and name-calling stops. Political football eliminated.

We'd need to find something else to divide us.

Rod Sink

Elgin

Important reminder on schoolbus safety

As Illinois schoolchildren return to school after their holiday break, I want to remind drivers to be on high alert for children making their way to and from school.

Sadly, this year has seen at least eight kids across the U.S. killed by motorists who failed to stop for school buses loading or unloading passengers. Five of those kids were killed over two days in November, including a 9-year-old Rochester, Indiana, girl and her 6-year-old twin brothers. It is illegal in all 50 states to pass a school bus whose red stop lights are flashing.

A one-day survey of 38 states by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services recorded 84,000 incidents of motor vehicles illegally passing stopped school buses. That was in a single day. My office has kept a close eye on these studies. As part of our Toby Tire School Bus Safety program, we emphasize to children the dangers of crossing the street. Our efforts have produced positive results. We are a national leader in school bus safety.

School bus safety has been a priority of school administrators, teachers and parents, as well as my office during the 20 years I have served as secretary of state. We warn children to always look both ways while crossing the street, not only while crossing in a school bus loading zone.

School bus safety is a responsibility to be shared by everyone in the community, not just parents and school officials. We are all stakeholders in the safety of our communities' children. We must remain vigilant in our efforts to protect our children and ensure they get to and from school in a safe and responsible manner. Our children are our future.

Jesse White

Illinois Secretary of State

He's right on Syria

I did not vote for President Trump. However, I agree with his decision to a full withdrawal of American troops from Syria and a partial withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Since World War II, the United States has engaged in numerous undeclared wars in countries, including Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.

Over 100,000 American soldiers have died in these conflicts. Article I of the U.S. Constitution clearly states that only Congress can declare war. It is time for members of both branches of government to begin following the Constitution.

Peter V. Grafner

Chicago