So now it begins. That great sucking sound is but a murmur right now, but soon it will have the roar of a lion. I refer to the 400 Northwest jobs that for some reason "must" move to Atlanta (front page, July 23).

However, why move them at all, when those who work in Minneapolis/St. Paul are most familiar with the weather conditions here? Just how do the Delta executives think that Atlanta-based employees can handle a major blizzard, something that Minnesota-based employees have years of experience doing?

This is yet just one more reason to halt the proposed takeover of Northwest by Delta. Moreover, it is a virtual "hostile" takeover, with Northwest employees taking the brunt of the cuts. Just watch, the next announcement will have more jobs moving south. This takeover must not go through, and hopefully will be stopped before more Minnesota jobs are lost. Then Delta can try to take over American, which also has a route system that does not compete with Delta in most places. Plus, it has a much more valuable set of resources, a major overhaul base in Tulsa, plus the Sabre airline reservations system. Northwest is more of a pioneer than Delta; let NWA continue to operate with that legacy rather than be relegated to second-class status in a forced takeover.

GREG HAGFORS, MINNEAPOLIS