Letters to the Editor about Keeping Oregon's Guard in Oregon

Keep Oregon Guard home
You make a strong, yet false, insistence in your editorial "Calling on the National Guard, again," that the current movement to keep Oregon's National Guard from another deployment to Iraq is "flat-out unconstitutional." (Jan. 23)

This question is complex and not settled legally. There are times when it is healthy and compassionate to question using citizen soldiers and war to settle profound international and societal problems. This is such a time.

Our Oregon National Guard soldiers should remain at home this spring. Both U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley and U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader are of this mind. Enough is enough.

TESS BEISTEL Southeast Portland

Saturday, August 9, 2008:

Stop absurd deployment

Thanks for printing "A mission from hell," your Aug. 3 commentary regarding the planned deployment of 3,500 Oregon National Guard members to Iraq next summer. While the report did a good job of pointing out the absurdity of the mission, with voices from the Guard themselves and Gov. Ted Kulongoski saying it shouldn't be done, I'd like to inform readers about actions they themselves can take to stop the deployment.

Currently, Peace and Justice Works as well as PDX Peace and other groups are working on a campaign to "Keep Oregon's National Guard in Oregon." This involves proposed legislation that would give the attorney general the authority to defend decisions to deploy or not deploy the Guard. The campaign stresses that most Oregonians want the United States out of Iraq, and that we should not send our Guard to fight an unjust, immoral war founded on lies from the beginning.

SARAH LEVY Southwest Portland

Friday, August 8, 2008:

Stop Oregon deployment

Finally, someone is speaking out about the terrible situation that our Oregon National Guard is facing ("Deployment of Oregon soldiers: A mission from hell," Aug. 3). Many of these Oregon citizens have been sent to Iraq and Afghanistan already and more will be sent next summer.

Their mission will be to provide security escort for convoys. Associate editor Mike Francis quoted one officer who says this mission makes them almost "magnets" for improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Most of us feel helpless in the face of the power of the federal government to demand this service. But we need to look at the original authorization. True, the federal government can mobilize state units in national emergencies, but what Congress authorized was use of military force against Afghanistan (2001) and Iraq (2002).

That authorization was based on enforcing United Nations resolutions against Saddam Hussein regarding weapons of mass destruction. Congress has not declared war or updated its authorizations. The Oregon Legislature can approve legislation challenging federal authority in this matter -- and it should. We need to keep our Guard here at home to aid in fighting fires and other emergencies.

DARLEANE LEMLEY Northeast Portland

Here is the Oregonian's letter policy:

We invite your letters to the editor. Send them to:
Letters to the editor, The Oregonian
1320 S.W. Broadway
Portland, Or., 97201
Or e-mail to: letters@news.oregonian.com
They may also be faxed to (503) 294-4193.

Please limit letters to 150 words. Please include your full address and daytime phone number, for verification only. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.