WAR

DEATH AND DESTRUCTION IN IRAQ MUST BE TOLD

Ken Stewart (Letters, June 25) resorts to the "Why does the Advertiser hate America?" cliche for its reporting that Bush's war of choice in Iraq is going badly.

George W. Bush is not "America," and his unnecessary invasion of Iraq and the deaths of so many innocent people and the terrible injuries and destruction deserve reporting.

Thank God that we still have a working Fourth Estate to counter this administration's drive for total domination of America and the world.

U.S. PULLOUT WILL NOT IMPROVE IRAQ SITUATION

Gy Hall ("United States has no business being in Iraq," June 27) is naive to think that that poor girl's life is going to improve with a U.S. pullout from Iraq.

That girl's life is horrible because of the fighting among her own people (influenced and financed by outsiders such as al-Qaida and Iran).

What this girl needs is a stable government that can provide schools, water and electricity, keep the outsiders out, and maintain a safe environment at home.

The girl's only hope for a better future is if the U.S. stays in Iraq long enough for the Iraqis to build a government that will do this. Then together we can get on with the business of rebuilding their country.

Her life is the way it is because of the fanatics who use her and her people as pawns as they seek power and control. We offer to spend billions to build schools, roads, power plants, provide training, whatever is needed and these maniacs stop it all from happening.

This will not end with a U.S. pullout. It would get worse and it would last longer, if not forever. Yes, this war, like all wars, is ugly. People are killed and people are hurt. It is horrible. But there are many things that are worth fighting for — including a future for an unknown young Iraqi girl and her people.

TOURISM

SOME THINGS WRITERS PROBABLY WON'T HEAR

Tourism writers are coming to Hawai'i this week.

Be sure to tell our guests they will be fined if caught jaywalking and that they will be cited for failure to buckle up (perhaps we should let all or visitors know by attaching a warning memo to their agricultural declaration forms). And, while you are at it, you should mention that there are a fair number of criminals running around with mile-long lists of felony convictions who are eager to make their visits really special.

Do mention that Hawai'i was voted to have the healthiest lifestyle of any state in the nation. But don't drive out to Ka'ena Point on the North Shore where the garbage left by the thankless and the thoughtless piles up and blows back and forth across Farrington Highway every weekend (somehow, I don't think it has been left there by tourists).

In fact, if you take these writers anywhere on the island, please have an advance posse scour for garbage and litter. It is everywhere. Don't mention that even though we live on an island we still haven't figured out how to provide convenient curbside recycling. Avoid driving through the neighborhoods where the eyesore of yard waste and bulky discards lie curbside for days on end.

The sewer pipes that now seem a permanent fixture down the middle of Kalaniana'ole Highway? Now there is a topic for a travel article. And, sure to mention that we are working on building mass transit — just not to the airport.

BUILDING PERMITS

WEB CAN BE USED TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS

As director of the city Department of Planning and Permitting, I am concerned when a member of the public does not feel he received adequate service, and while I understand Mr. Johathan Hunter's frustration ("Building-permit office needs major overhaul," June 25), I must set the record straight by saying that his statements are an exaggeration of the challenges facing our permit centers in Honolulu and Kapolei.

The construction industry is experiencing enormous growth, and O'ahu's economy is booming. During the past year, our department issued 15,748 building permits with an accepted value of more than $2 billion. Despite the Kamehameha Day holiday in which city offices were closed, the department issued 175 building permits in that week alone.

The department has instituted new procedures to address waiting in line. For instance, we have posted real-time numbers being served online to allow our customers to use their wait times better.

Mr. Hunter, to avoid waiting in line, did have the option of submitting an online building permit application and dropping off his plans. Our permit staff regularly works overtime to ensure that these permits are processed in an expedited manner. He would have received his online permit within a two-week period. Instead, he opted to submit his application in person and receive over-the-counter service.

While I am not minimizing Mr. Hunter's complaint, I always encourage our customers to apply online instead of waiting in line. We have made improvements, and we can and will do better.

SPECIAL NEEDS

APPROPRIATE EDUCATION CONTINUES TO BE DENIED

The Advertiser article "Hawai'i one of 9 states up to par on special ed" (June 21) has been discussed widely among parents of special-ed students.

We don't know whether to laugh or cry at such an inaccurate claim.

I have spoken to two families recently who are filing for due process because the Department of Education continues to deny their children an appropriate education.

We are discussing this article on chat boards, on the phone and when we see each other at our children's special-ed classrooms.

It would be good for your reporter to see the file drawers full of paperwork necessary to get the DOE to appropriately educate our daughter.

Every time the DOE fights to deny our children an appropriate education, taxpayers pay tremendous attorney fees.

It would serve our children and the community well if the DOE would spend the tax dollars they have been trusted with to follow best practices and teach our children appropriately.