If you were expecting anything resembling substance from Mitt Romney on his “important” foreign policy speech, you were being set up to be let down.
One of the Romney speech’s biggest head-scratching moments came with his promise to overtly arm the Syrian rebels who have been fighting against President Basher Assad for the past year and a half.
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Like many of his generation, it appears that Gov. Romney still sees the world like old television westerns where the good guys wear white hats and the bad guys wear black hats and picking sides is just that simple.
Does Romney not realize that according to reports on the ground, the Syrian rebels are being supported and influenced by none other than al-Qaida? When and whether they are successful in overthrowing Assad, does anyone believe that al-Qaida will just slink away and not demand any return on their investment of men and material?
Does Romney not realize that Syria’s Christian, Shia and Alawite religious minorities have either largely sat out the fighting or have thrown in with the Assad regime?
If and when Assad losses, what happens to those minority sects? Just the threat of a “settling of scores” from the Sunni-dominated victors, and we’ll see an influx of refugees bringing a humanitarian crisis into already imperiled neighboring states such as Lebanon and Iraq.
Romney must know that direct U.S. meddling in Syria would require the heavy lifting be done by old NATO ally Turkey.
How will Syria’s 2 million already-restive Kurds and several hundred thousand Armenians react to the massive footprint of their old Turkish nemesis?
His oversimplified solution, straight from the Cold War playbook, is to drop more guns into the cauldron and hope for the best. Is that anyone’s idea of thoughtful, modern leadership?
Jeremy Smith
Old Orchard Beach
Service-oriented Chris Tyll excellent choice for Senate
I am writing in support of Chris Tyll, candidate for State Senate from District 11.
Since I met him, Chris has continually impressed me with the work he puts into understanding the issues we face in our district.
He has visited Chebeague Island, where I reside, and each of the other towns in District 11 numerous times to participate in community events, learn about the concerns of voters and just sit at kitchen tables having conversations with the residents so he can best prepare himself to represent us in Augusta.
Chris’ service record has also impressed me. I have long known that Chris was a Navy SEAL, but as I have gotten to know him better I have learned the true depth of his service — he completed four tours of duty in Iraq and is active in local veterans organizations like the American Legion and AMVETS.
His understanding of service as a continued commitment to work for his entire community proves that he knows what it takes to be a true leader.
With his dedication to our communities and his attitude about service, I know Chris Tyll will accomplish much for District 11 as our state senator. He has earned my vote on Nov. 6.
Jill Malony
Chebeague Island
Supporter, skeptic voice views on King candidacy
The Maine U.S. Senate campaign is taking on a rather shrill sound and seems to be generating no little fury, mostly among people who really have no business injecting either into our state’s politics.
That outside interests run attack ads against former Gov. King is sadly not all that surprising. Their blatant insult to the intelligence of the Maine voter, however — through imagery better aimed at a 3-year-old and non sequiturs made up of buzzwords — is offensive.
I support Angus King for several reasons. His record is lengthy and transparent. I may not always agree with his conclusions, but I absolutely appreciate his willingness to actually hear different viewpoints.
Gov. King offers practical ideas and he welcomes suggestions. Moreover, as an independent, he may be able to give Maine a stronger voice in the Senate than a party member might. Indeed, if a few more independents are elected, they may be able to form their own Senate block and — dare one hope? — break the deadlocks.
Finally, the governor cites a principle he calls “the rototiller rule,” which sums up why I support his candidacy: I may borrow my neighbor’s rototiller to get my garden in, but I have an obligation to get it back in the same shape as I received it, if not better. I’d also feel it proper to hand over some produce as it ripened.
The same applies to all the resources — natural, social and economic — we use. They’re all on loan, in a sense, and we all have an obligation to restore what we use, adding to it if we can.
So I hope voters will ignore the noisy ads and listen carefully to what Gov. King offers, and then join me in supporting him.
Susan Lowery
Harpswell
We all know Angus King — Angus — in fact. He was governor. He did a TV thing, “King of the Road.” He got computers into the classrooms. And according to many (though not all), he did a lot for Maine. He’s decent, a family man, a teacher, effective in business and certainly charismatic. We know him …
But do we know all about him? All that we must know if he were to be our next senator?
What about his involvement with the Business Equipment Tax Reimbursement program?
Or that he supported extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy; he opposed minimum-wage laws; he will not commit to repealing the Defense of Marriage Act; is in favor of the Keystone XL pipeline; and does not support reinstating the 1994 ban on assault weapons?
He seeks our support in his run for the Senate, but we do not know how he would caucus. We do not know how he would vote on gay marriage, on reproductive rights, and the biggest challenge and threat, what his thoughts are on the changing climate.
He is a consummate politician and, probably, a superb poker player. He knows how to keep his cards close.
But does Maine need a politician? Or do we need a legislator, one who has a record of supporting fair wages, tax fairness, universal health care, quality public education and, most of all, the environment?
That would be Cynthia Dill, a former civil rights lawyer and businessperson who has that record and whose name is emerging from the unknown. Examine her actions. Compare them to her opponents’. And see how she will so appropriately carry on the tradition of Maine women in the U.S. Senate.
Richard K. Jennings
Brunswick
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