Letters To The Editor

FORESTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Forests need empty spaces, too

Whenever one reads a newspaper report about heavy rains, erosion and washed-out roads, quotes from the great protectors of the environment will be found (“Rains devastate North Idaho forests and watersheds,” Dec. 8). They rant about destruction caused by Forest Service roads and clearcuts.

Invariably, Al Espinosa, former chief fisheries biologist for Clearwater National Forest, will be quoted: “Without those trees, there is nothing to drink up rainwater and prevent erosion.”It bothers me when land managers try practicing invisible forestry because of such criticism.

About clearcut areas in the North Fork of the Clearwater, one national forest manager says,”That probably isn’t what Mother Nature planned.”

He’s right. Considering the tremendous fuel buildup from dead and dying trees, sweet Mother Nature had a different plan. Wildfire is the major natural agent of forest change.

Remember the summers of 1988 and 1994?

In “Northwest Disaster” Ruby L. Hunt says if you flew from Clark Fork, Idaho, along the Bitterroot Divide to Moose Creek, 70 percent of your flight would be over the fire area, with the burn extending 25 miles on either side of the divide. “The country … appeared to have been ravaged by bomb warfare.” The 1910 wildfire described burned over 3 million acres, long before suppression efforts left unnatural fuel buildup. There were no roads or clearcuts on which to blame this event.

Will we learn what history tells us about the natural processes in these ecosystems?

The forest is more than trees; it’s also the absence of them. Vegetation that comes into these openings is as important to healthy ecosystems as are the trees. John Krebs Potlatch, Idaho

Preservationists behind mill loss

Spokane Public Radio had an “Inland Journal” piece recently in which a Don Smith of the Alliance for the Wild Rockies claimed Boise Cascade Corp. shut down a sawmill in Council, Idaho, and shipped the mills machinery to Mexico, to open a sawmill there.

It’s OK to be enthusiastic about your point of view, but let’s have a reality check. The Council mill shut down, with millions of board feet of burned timber left rotting where it stood, because folks like Don Smith were so successful in stopping the harvesting of salvage timber. Take the credit Don, you won!

Now, if Boise Cascade uses machinery - we’re talking about a forklift and a motor panel - from a mill the preservationists managed to get closed to help a mill open in Mexico (land of lax environmental laws, human rights violations, etc.), place whatever blame there is on the shoulders Smith and his shortsighted friends in the preservation business.

Here’s one thing you can look forward to in a few weeks or months: You’ll be seeing more wood products labeled “Made in Mexico.” Gary M. Garrison Kettle Falls, Wash.

Forest Service help too one sided

I recently received a letter from Payette National Forest Supervisor David Alexander in response to my comments on the main Salmon post-fire project.

In my comments, I questioned Alexander about his use of the term “economic efficiency” as a reason for choosing his preferred alternative, which would involve building new roads in roadless areas. In his letter, Alexander stated, “It would be a disservice to the American public not to consider economic efficiency in government business.”

Herein lies the problem. By choosing timber sale alternatives which build roads, the Forest Service actually is costing the American public more and saving money for the timber industry. This is because road building is, in effect, paid for by the government. Even though logging companies do the actual construction, they get credit in the form of timber in return for building the roads.

Unfortunately, this shows the Forest Service is serving the timber industry, not the American public.

Additionally, the Fall Creek timber sale (another salvage logging project in a roadless area) was not even bid on when it was first opened for bidding. This would indicate there is enough logs already. Indeed, there is. Huge stacks of logs lie in Meadows Valley because there is no room at the mills in Lewiston.

Unfortunately, one can only conclude the Forest Service is helping only one sector of the American public - a sector that doesn’t even need help! David Walker Boise

Enough of pseudoscience

I read Vicki Lopez’ letter regarding the dire effects of global warming with great interest. Unfortunately, her “facts” are nothing but fiction.

Icebergs have been part of the world for millions of years. There is no massive new desertification and global warming is pseudoscience at its worst.

Provable facts are quite clear and demonstrate the opposite.

The highest temperature ever recorded on Earth was in Libya at 136 degrees in 1922, over 70 years ago. The highest American temperature was in Death Valley at 134 degrees in 1913, over 80 years ago. When examining the highest temperatures on record state by state, we find most highs were in the 1910s, 1920s and 1930s - long before the age of enormous petroleum usage.

Warnings of unimaginable rises in ocean levels have proven utterly false, as have warnings of soaring temperatures, diminishing precipitation and the onrushing death of vegetation on Earth.

There is an unmistakable connection between the political leanings of the left and a belief in global warming. They want global warming to be true because that would be “evidence” of man’s folly when left to his own resources and would justify enormous increases in government planning, direction and interference in order to save us from ourselves.

My request is that, before citing facts based on pseudoscience or nonscience, they check the validity of their evidence. If we must endure government intrusion in our lives, at least let it be based on sound, rational and unquestionable evidence. Leonard M. Melman Spokane

Get facts before pointing finger

Recent flooding and landslides on national forest lands have triggered news articles and some controversy over whether timber harvest and roads caused the slides. I caution readers to carefully evaluate what they read or hear. The truth is, no one really knows yet exactly what caused each slide.

We are still investigating the numerous landslides and road washouts that occurred in Clearwater National Forest, and any conclusion drawn at this early stage by anyone is strictly conjecture.

While management activities may be a factor in some cases, the fact is, landslides occurred on unmanaged land as well as roaded, managed land. Some of the largest slides, like the one that washed out a section of Highway 12, began on land that had never been roaded or harvested.

The amount of rainfall is a certain factor. Precipitation in October and November on the Clearwater forest averaged 199 percent above normal for this time of year. The rain, in combination with melting snow, resulted in a torrent of water washing down every drainage, in some cases bringing soil and rock along.

On Nov. 30, U.S. Geological Survey gauging stations measured record flows on the North Fork Clearwater River, which was high enough to flood Road 250 in one area.

We are working to open and repair damaged roads where we can this fall. At the same time, I’ve called in geologists, soil scientists and engineers to work with us as we continue to survey the forest, assess the damage and evaluate cause. James L. Caswell, forest supervisor Clearwater National Forest, Orofino, Idaho

EPA continues war on the West

The EPA is at it again. The EPA tried to designate 8.2 million acres (50 percent of Washington agricultural, land) as a sole-source aquifer, subjecting occupants to unnecessary, unwanted, and expensive regulations.

This same federal agency had five independent scientists tell them their sole source aquifer proposal was nonsense.

The International Montreal Protocol listed methyl bromide as an “ozone deleting substance” without backing up this claim with scientific study, cost-benefit analysis, or any concern for the economies or agricultural interests in Washington. The environmental zealots at EPA have dutifully followed with a ban on methyl bromide by January 1, 2001. Methyl bromide is a pesticide/ fumigant used in protecting stored crops from mold and spores. There’s no viable, cost-effective substitute. Without its use, harvested crop spoilage will explode. It’s estimated U.S. food costs will increase $46 billion, and we will loose $9 billion annually in fruit/vegetable import/ exports.

In the book “Eco-Sanity,” Nobel Prize winner Dr. Norman E. Borlaug estimates that without the use of pesticides, over 60 percent of all forests and woodlands in the U.S. would have to be converted to cropland.

When will this war on the West by the current administration end.? William Riley Ephrata, Wash.

PEACEKEEPING MISSION

Every which way but right

The great military strategist, President Bill Clinton, is sending a lot of people to protect the Serbs from those they have been butchering for years.

He has refused to lift the arms embargo against the Muslims while arms, including tanks, aircraft and heavy artillery, have flowed unchecked to the Serbs. His position was that arming the Muslims would widen the war. His logic was flawless. Wars usually get smaller as more people on one side die, and they end when everybody on one side is dead or imprisoned.

Now that the Muslims are being helped by neighboring Muslims and gaining the upper hand, Clinton sends the cavalry to the rescue of the oppressors. With weapons, the Muslims could have ended this war themselves.

Our military operations will cost, according to estimates, $2 billion - which probably means $10 billion. Clinton also proposes we rebuild hospitals, schools and roads. He says, ” For peace to endure, the people of Bosnia must obtain the tangible benefits of peace.” This means more billions. We should stop paying in blood and gold for wars we are not responsible for.

Is Clinton motivated by humanitarian zeal or does he have visions of himself accepting the Nobel Peace Prize? Perhaps he suddenly feels guilty for his part in leaving innocent people defenseless. His conduct has been that of a fool and there is nothing more dangerous than an ambitious fool who has unlimited power. George Helms Athol

Bosnia ploy will backfire on U.S.

Current United Nations policies in Bosnia are largely President Clinton’s. These policies are politically motivated. Clinton hopes to achieve the image of the great peacemaker before next year’s elections. He hopes this will bolster his sagging chances of re-election.

Clinton also realizes he can’t get approval to use U.N. occupation forces in Bosnia because of Russian opposition in the U.N. Security Council. So the decision was made to use American, British and French NATO forces. Since NATO is controlled by the United States there is little chance of any opposition. These forces are to enforce a peace agreement negotiated, at Clinton’s insistence, though gun barrel diplomacy - meaning an agreement negotiated with a gun held to your head.

Clinton claims NATO forces will be in Bosnia a year. I believe that at the end of a year most British and French forces will have withdrawn and been replaced with American troops and equipment. The U.S. will have a permanent, ever-increasing deployment of troops in Bosnia to enforce the “peace,” much as it has in Korea since 1952. This occupation may serve to unite the factions in Bosnia against a common enemy: the U.S. This unity will last only as long as the U.S. occupation. A.B. Kellogg Sandpoint

Clinton a fighter for peace

Being a bit of a history buff, I am reminded of an American president who was able to mediate the Russo-Japanese War. Another who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to establish peace at the end of World War I. Another whose term was just ending when hostages were released in the Iran affair.

Now there is another American president who so loved peace he did the necessary things to evade war, as so many other young men did in their time. He is now in a position to develop peace in many places; among them Haiti, Israel, Jordan, Ireland and now, Bosnia.

The 20th Century could be known as the century of war: World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf War and several other conflicts.

Could not the 21st Century be known as the century of peace? Should not this president be awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace?

In this season when we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace, may our prayers go out for this president, his family and for the members of the military who are being asked to go to Bosnia to guarantee the peace in that country. Theron Drake Brewster, Wash.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Clinton record indefensible

I really had my laugh for the week when I read Jason Wolther’s comments (“Clinton is military chief, volunteer,” Letters, Dec. 8) about our courageous commander in chief. One wonders where he got the material in the peace pipe he’s been smoking with President Clinton.

Face it, Clinton is a draft dodger even if Wolther calls it intelligently protecting himself. In addition, Clinton clearly stated he loathed the military. He also went to a foreign country to protest his own government’s military actions and I would rate him about a minus 10 on a scale of 0 to 20 for qualities of character and leadership.

Wait! That will be too hard to understand for most of his supporters, because those who have attended his new “Democratic math” classes have learned that a plus is really a minus and $7,000 is much less than $4,000. I wonder how much longer before the Republicans will start using speeches made by the Clintons and others for their advertising campaigns. Both Clintons gave speeches the administration’s first year stating that a one-third reduction in annual increases in Medicare spending would be necessary to preserve the system. Oh yes, this would definitely not be a cut but only a reduction in growth. Yet another lapse of memory - so typical with this flip-flop president.

After serving in the military for 28 years it’s hard for me to understand how anyone could ever respect or support in any way anyone with such poor character and leadership ability. Gerald Olsen Spokane

Clinton theatrics getting old

In April 1993, President Clinton said “Today, Medicaid and Medicare are going up at three times the rate of inflation. We propose to let it go up at two times the rate of inflation. That’s not a Medicare or Medicaid cut. We’re going to have increases in Medicare and Medicaid, and a reduction in the rate of growth.”

On Oct. 5, 1993, Clinton warned, “So, when you hear all this business about cuts, let me caution you that this isn’t what’s going on.”

In June 1995 he said the Congressional Budget Office figures were reliable and dependable. Now, he says their computations are distorted.

Now, the proposal presented for a balanced budget will increase Medicare spending by 7.4 percent per year and Mr. Clinton and his gang of hired mudslingers call it a cut. With an inflation rate of 3 percent, a spending increase of 7.4 percent is more than twice the rate of inflation. Why does he now insist on calling this a cut?

I understand that he believes it’s necessary to appear to have the best interest of the country at heart, but his acting job is poor. His liberal friends in Hollywood (Barbra Streisand, Robert Redford, Jane Fonda and others) get paid to speak convincingly without sincerity. He’s being paid by the taxpayers to manage the day-to-day business of government, not to audition for an acting job after his defeat next year.

Why doesn’t he stop the grandstanding, sign the budget bill, and find another topic to use for his campaign strategy? Bob Allen Spokane

SPOKANE COUNTY

Sweetser should be ashamed

I am appalled at the mistreatment Spokane County Prosecutor Jim Sweetser continues to dish out to his own employees.

I read how Sweetser was going to save the county money by getting rid of a county attorney, Garald Gesinger, who has spent more than 25 years serving the taxpayers. Worse, this employee has a serious physical affliction, Tourette syndrome, and yet has excelled as a loyal and productive county employee.

Shame on you, Sweetser. The money you spent to remodel your office into the Taj Mahal of Spokane County, at the taxpayers’ expense, could have been better spent on this individual’s salary.

You, Sweetser, further claim Gesinger is the least productive employee in your office. Have you tried a case since you took office as Spokane County prosecutor? Loyce Wagner Spokane