Readers Write for Tuesday, Nov. 3

THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN

Kline's advice sincere, but lacking in credibility

U.S. Rep. John Kline sounds reasonable and responsible in his desire to see the administration in Washington speed up policy decisions regarding Afghanistan ("Now is a time for action," Oct. 28). Without doubt, Kline is concerned for the safety and welfare for this country's armed forces and not least for the safety of his son, an Army helicopter pilot.

Regrettably, the deterioration of the security situation on the ground in Afghanistan and the steadily mounting number of fatalities and injuries sustained by American and NATO troops is, in large measure, the result of past administration missteps, actions and policies that Kline robustly supported.

In August 2002, the Associated Press reported that Kline fully supported the Bush administration in its drive to invade Iraq, a decision that fundamentally shifted our military's focus away from what was then a successful campaign to remove the Taliban and its terrorist fellow travelers from the face of Afghanistan, to an entirely unnecessary, foolhardy and immoral invasion of Iraq.

On what grounds should we now give credence to Kline in policy matters regarding Afghanistan? Was it not the same Kline, putting his shoulder to the Bush wheel of Iraqi invasion, who attested, on public record, "[Saddam] Hussein is harboring terrorists in Iraq and is developing weapons of mass destruction?" Or not.

Now the congressman is an expert on Afghanistan?

THE REV. FREDERICK NAIRN, MINNETONKA

I hope those who agree will ask our two hard-working, intelligent senators to look long and hard at this and help pressure the White House to see that more is not better -- more just means more lives ruined and dollars wasted.

KAREN SHRAGG, BLOOMINGTON

VICTORY AT LAMBEAU

Brett's moved on, as the media love to attest

It's official. Brett Favre is now divorced from the Packers and married to the Vikings!

MICHAEL MCCosky, St. Michael

•••

Are the reports true that Brett Favre was seen ascending into the heavens above Green Bay after the game on Sunday? It would seem that the media's canonization process of the "Homecoming king" and the "Lord of Lambeau" may be nearing completion. It's truly amazing what one player can accomplish -- apparently totally on his own!

DENNIS DILLON, MINNEAPOLIS

OUTINGS FOR HOMELESS

Opat's outrage is misplaced and ironic

Hennepin County Commissioner Mike Opat is critical of a county program for using part of its allotted budget to take a handful of its homeless clients to a Minnesota Vikings game (Star Tribune, Oct. 24).

The Hennepin County Street Case Management Project works with homeless men and women isolated from our society who battle severe chemical addiction and mental illnesses. Just like you and me, these people desire to be part of a community. When none is present, they become further isolated, sleeping under bridges and frequently visiting detox centers, jails and emergency rooms.

The Street Case Management Project provides a community. As long as they come sober, clients participate in a "Sunday dinner" of sorts once a week. In addition, they will receive one-on-one attention from a nurse and guidance to help them stay sober. The program has worked. High-cost interventions like detox and emergency rooms have been cut by more than half for clients, saving hundreds of thousands of public dollars in the process.

Clients who are sober and have demonstrated positive behavior will sometimes get to go on trips. For many clients, that has meant getting to be at a professional sporting event for the first time in their lives.

Opat is criticizing a program that used about $6,000 of its allotted budget -- none coming from Hennepin County taxes -- for a program that effectively reduces homelessness and saves money. This is the same person who led the charge to hand over millions of county sales tax dollars to billionaires in order to build the new Twins stadium.

REP. JEFF HAYDEN, MINNEAPOLIS

IMAGINE THIS

Dear Minnesota senator or rep:

I am sorry I am unable to contribute to your reelection campaign fund. I needed to use my extra money to pay health insurance premiums.

What? No problem? The insurance companies used a portion of my premiums to hire lobbyists to make contributions and suggest a favorable vote? So, how much of my health insurance premium can I deduct on my tax return as a contribution, without the 7 percent exclusion? Never mind. Have a nice day.

DOUG BURNIKEL, BROOKLYN PARK