The Anniston Star’s pro-incineration editorials recently declared incineration “The Cure” for chemical-weapons storage “disease”; The Star’s also reported neutralization unworkable on AAD’s “complex” stockpile, especially M55s. But AAD’s weapons and agents are replicated in non-incineration (“neutralization”) sites elsewhere: Maryland and Indiana (Mustard and VX bulk), Colorado (Mustard munitions), and probably Kentucky, whose governor-appointed Citizen’s Advisory Commission, state legislature, five successive governors, and its U.S. senators/representatives oppose incineration, favoring non-incineration technology for its GB/VX/Mustard rockets/projectiles. The National Academy of Science has approved neutralization’s effectiveness (even for M55s), but AAD’s dangerous experimental “chop and drop” incineration of M55s (30 -34 per hour vs. 1.5 per hour allowed in Utah desertland) deviates significantly from the Academy’s recommendations.
The Star should’ve called the faster, safer, controllable neutralization “The Cure” for incineration-disease, because neutralization more safely contains emissions during disposal. Incineration’s “unfriendly fire” has produced over a dozen documented releases while burning only 7397 tons (11 years) vs. neutralization’s 8000 tons (4 years). What’s unknown is the number of undocumented, unreported incineration/storage releases for which the Army didn’t “sound the alarm,” but we have a right to question the Army’s public warnings (litigants in Oregon agree). A voice for Army views, The Star is, knowingly or ignorantly, misrepresenting incineration vs. “neutralization.”
Gene Blanton Jacksonville
The Good Carrier
As I was going to work my car quit on the Cedar Springs Road about the time an Anniston Star carrier came by. He made his stop and continued on while I coasted to the side of the road. As I was getting out to walk the three or four miles back home, he returned and offered me his cell phone; but, not having anyone to call I thanked him and said I would walk back home. I didn’t want to be knocking on anyone's door this time of the morning. He said that I didn’t need to be walking this early in the morning on the backroads and made room for me and took me home.
On this day he was not The Anniston Star carrier, he was my guardian angel. And I want to thank him and also I want to apologize to the customers in the vicinity of the old Cedar Springs School if your paper was a few minutes late.
Joan H. Woodard Jacksonville
Editor’s note: Word comes from The Star’s Circulation Department that Ms. Woodard’s mystery man was Mr. Bob Ramsey, a long time Star carrier.
Guns and riots
The 1992 riots in Los Angeles demonstrated mob violence against the store owners and anyone in the path of destruction. A citizen’s right to bear arms to protect property and life had to wait 15 days for a permit to purchase a weapon.
In Vermont, a U.S. citizen has a right to carry a weapon for protection (requires no permit). FBI reports Vermont enjoys the 49th lowest crime rate in the states, L.A. ranks first.
We are the victims of the Second Amendment, begging our government for permission to carry a firearm.
Erman L. Ogburn Lineville
About Speak Out
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