Netlets for Wednesday, April 30

I do not understand what motivates the unsubstantiated claims by officers of the Minnesota, the Minneapolis Regional and Metropolitan Chambers of Commerce. Buried in the extensive, Pollyanna prose of their House testimony about the Northwest-Delta merger (Opinion Exchange, April 24) are statements that can be refuted by common sense.

The idea that merging airlines can somehow cope with fuel costs is an obvious nonstarter. The contention that the merger would better cope with the economic downturn than the two separate airlines has no logic. In this era of Internet booking, the marketing enhancement is probably minimal. The merger would bring instant organizational costs, that will be years in ameliorating. The verbal promises by Delta in saving NWA jobs and Minnesota operations are not confirmed by enforceable written contracts.

There is a current need to respond to the rapidly changing marketing and operational scenarios of the airline industry. Two separate, efficiently structured and managed airlines are much more able to quickly respond to these challenges. There is nothing wrong with Northwest Airlines that a capable management, focused on running the airline rather than pursuing personal remuneration, cannot solve.

FELIX A. PERRY, MINNEAPOLIS

Away from home is part of pilot's job -- and pay I'm responding to the ridiculous assertion in an April 19 Counterpoint that pilots only work 12 to 15 days a month. Pilots must fly up to 90 hours a month (where the 12 to 15 days figure comes from), but that is only the time in the cockpit (and preparing for the flight). That does not include time on the road on long itineraries, in strange hotels away from their families.

The writer is just one of many people who simply do not understand the grueling schedule commercial pilots have, let alone understand that they are paid to be away from home.

LESLIE DOLL, BURNSVILLE

While it may seem to the letter writer Otto that the Catholic Church is ruling with an "iron fist," I believe that the church offers us a picture of human nature that includes more than physical sexual expression.

On April 27, seven men were ordained priests for St. Paul and Minneapolis. These men are excellent examples that love goes beyond the love of a married couple to a total gift of self to God and to neighbor.

I urge the letter writer to please not shortchange human nature; we are capable of quite a bit more.

DAVID HEINTZ, ROBBINSDALE

Enough is enough in Iraq An April 25 letter ("This is winning") states that we will have victory in Iraq when the experts determine that "Iraq can take care of and protect itself from our common enemies: Al-Qaida, Iran and all other Islamic jihadists" in the region.

There simply is no end in sight. It is time to bring our troops home.

BARB HILLMER, BURNSVILLE

Sometimes a surge is the smart strategy Thirty six people shot in Chicago two weekends ago. We are losing the war on crime! Let's end this violence by pulling all the police out within 60 days. Sorry, just applying Obama / Clinton logic.

In the meantime, in Minneapolis, over 30 policemen were hired. Mayor R.T. Rybak employs the surge strategy.

GARY QUALLEY, TONKA BAY

Just sitting in my living room I can look out my window and tell you what is great about living here: A little girl is playing hopscotch across the street and enjoying the sunshine, a couple is walking with a stroller and two dogs, my neighbors are raking their lawn, there are numerous trees, well-kept homes, two cardinals are chirping and tulips are beginning to bloom.

Oh, and tonight I will ride my bike along North Memorial Parkway to the Mississippi River where herons are nesting in the trees and fox, ducks, rabbits, beavers and deer are running wild. Most of the time it is so quiet in my house the only sounds are the birds singing. Within walking distance I can have a great dinner and see wonderful theater. The Northside Arts Collective always has an art show near me. Life in my city is not just fantastic, it is awesome.

MICHELE LEMOINE, MINNEAPOLIS

Time to end fanatical pursuit of a Clinton dynasty Missing from Hillary Clinton's artificially confident and disingenuous claim that she is better equipped than Barack Obama to take on John McCain are two important facts: Her unfavorable ratings rival those of George W. Bush and, by a margin of 2-1, the electorate thinks she lies. Couple those assets with the powerful incentive she gives the Republicans to unite against her and you hardly have a winning hand.

My neo-con friends, including many vast right-wing conspirators, are waiting with bated breath for her to clinch the deal so they can roll out their attack machine. The suspicious shenanigans and relationships with politicos-benefactors that shade her and her hubby's past are far more serious than disagreeing with one's preacher or meeting an English professor at a board meeting. She wouldn't be in it now if Obama were willing to resort her mean-spirited tactics, and we should applaud him for not sinking to her lows. The GOP won't be so generous in the general election.