Readers Write: Qatari military training, ‘No Kings,’ Minneapolis elections, the shutdown, Israel-Hamas

Opinion editor’s note: Strib Voices publishes letters from readers online and in print each day. To contribute, click here.

•••

When the U.S. government announced that Qatar would fund and build a “training facility” for its own air force at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, many Americans shrugged (“Qatari pilots to train at Air Force base in Idaho,” Oct. 11). We shouldn’t have.

No matter what polite label the Pentagon gives it, the reality is simple: A foreign monarchy would be paying to build and operate inside a U.S. military installation. That crosses a line.

I don’t care which party occupies the White House — this is wrong. If any administration, Republican or Democrat, had suggested such a thing 10 years ago, the reaction would have been immediate outrage. We all know it. Our defense infrastructure exists to serve the American people, not to host the military projects of foreign governments with deep pockets and soft-power ambitions.

The United States has long trained with allies abroad and welcomed foreign officers to our schools and simulators. That’s cooperation. What was announced for Idaho is ownership — and ownership, even partial, means influence. Once a foreign government can plant a flag, fund a building and move personnel under its own command on American soil, we’ve invited something we can’t easily remove.

That’s why I’ve written to every elected official who represents me — from Congress to the Minnesota Legislature to the governor — urging them to draw a bright, nonpartisan line: No foreign government will finance, construct or operate military or paramilitary facilities in the state of Minnesota.

This is not isolationism. It’s integrity. Training with friends is wise; handing over real estate and control is reckless. Our grandparents fought to ensure that America would never answer to a foreign crown or committee. We shouldn’t sell that independence now for convenience or cash.

The principle is older than politics: A nation that cannot say “no” to foreign influence has already said “yes” to decline.

Minnesota should lead by example and say no — firmly, respectfully and forever.

T. Matthew Robinson-Aguirre, Willmar, Minn.

Both House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minnesota’s own Rep. Tom Emmer have taken up the rhetoric of the hatemonger Stephen Miller. Johnson called the “No Kings” rally being held Oct. 18, a “hate America rally” of “the antifa people” and “the pro-Hamas wing,” and Emmer quipped that there is a “terrorist wing” of the Democratic Party, set to hold a “hate America rally in D.C. next week.”

Patrick O’Connor, Minneapolis

•••

Whoa, Rep. Emmer! Hold on there! You say we “hate America” if we don’t want a king? And we’re “terrorist[s]” if we encourage others to protest and preserve their rights? You would have made a great Tory, ratting out the Sons of Liberty as they dumped tea into Boston Harbor. Surrender your own rights if you wish, but stop maligning those of us who want to keep ours.

Ken Pearson, Golden Valley

An Oct. 5 Star Tribune headline read “Mpls. Ward 2 election may play pivotal role in council control.” But what followed was not a balanced report or objective appraisal of the two lead candidates, incumbent Robin Wonsley (DSA) and her main challenger, Shelley Madore (DFL). Rather, it was an example of journalism slanted by bias.

Madore, on the other hand, is painted as a newcomer to the ward — by innuendo, an opportunist. Anyone who knows her or who has worked with her recognizes this is a caricature: laughably inaccurate. Madore is an experienced community advocate, former state legislator and public servant. She is extremely well-informed, practical and passionate about both nuts-and-bolts details and future challenges that confront city governance: housing, health care, senior welfare, youth employment, public safety and the local economy.

Ward 2 is indeed a pivotal election with regard to the City Council and city politics in general. The race is going to be close between these two contenders, because Madore offers a very strong and talented alternative to the current status quo.

Henry Gould, Minneapolis

The closure of our National Wildlife Refuges, National Parks and National Forests hurts our communities in many ways. Of course, our dedicated wildlife biologists, rangers and maintenance workers face yet another round of career upheaval. And, yes, tourism sputters and local businesses suffer. But the harms to our local communities run deeper and are often overlooked. Since the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge’s visitor centers in Bloomington and Carver were forced to close their doors, 13 elementary school class visits were canceled and more are facing cancellation. Family bird walks and nature discovery programs on the refuge and at local libraries were also canceled. As this shutdown continues, the time and effort of local nonprofit and government partners co-planning and co-hosting large-scale, free educational refuge events is wasted.

The National Wildlife Refuge system is the world’s premier system of lands and waters dedicated to fish and wildlife conservation. Minnesota is fortunate to have 13 National Wildlife Refuges, each one providing unique habitats for wildlife and safe places for people — your neighbors and mine — to reconnect with nature. In a noisy world, we need these free, neighborhood gathering places, these quiet sanctuaries where we recharge in nature more than ever.

Tom Worthington, St. Louis Park

The writer is president of Minnesota Valley Refuge Friends.

Yep, I’m skeptical.

The headlines from Israel and Gaza like “Behind ceasefire joy, lasting peace sought” (Oct. 14) feel less like a lasting peace plan and more like the déjà vu of another president prematurely taking credit for mission accomplished in an intractable conflict.

Melinda Erickson, Roseville

President Donald Trump called upon the signatories to the historic peace agreement between Hamas and Israel to “put the old feuds and bitter hatreds behind us.” Excellent idea! And the president has a unique opportunity to model such behavior by putting old feuds and bitter hatreds behind him. Think former President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and former President Joe Biden. Even more: former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. World leaders would know that if those feuds can be “put behind us,” anything on the world stage is possible.