Has Homeland Security nothing better to do?

By removing those two women from their cafeteria positions, the Department of Homeland Security is really doing its job keeping "dangerous" people out of work so they will not harm anyone ("Out of Work at Federal Building After 20-Plus Years' Service: Two Veteran Cafeteria Workers Can't Find Out Why Homeland Security Had Them Yanked From Their Jobs," July 13).

I cannot believe that the most important thing Homeland Security has to do is put two middle-aged women with more than 20 years of service in their positions out of work. They need to get a little bit of common sense in that office. I have never read a more ridiculous story in my life.

Doesn't anyone actually look at the workers and their histories before they decide to just oust them from jobs they love? The problem with our government and law are that both have no common sense. If anyone in the office actually looked at the whole picture of these two women, these officials would realize how stupid they look in removing these women from their jobs. They look a bit dangerous, don't you think?

With all the more important issues out there, one would think that this office of overpaid people would get to bigger things than two cafeteria workers who have spent years at their positions. If they were "terrorists" they more than likely would have already tried something in those 20-some years. I am embarrassed by the Department of Homeland Security. The officials there should be ashamed of themselves.

RHONDA BERLIN
Harrison City

---

What a joke

I am sooo relieved that the Department of Homeland Security finally removed the two workers from their high-profile, big-annual-salary positions at the federal building cafeteria. After seeing their photographs and reading about the longevity of their careers, there is no doubt in my mind that one is a member of the Taliban and her accomplice is a member of the Iraqi Republican Guard.

They are more than likely plotting together right now to burn that beautiful American flag flying proudly from the one lady's front porch and thinking of how to turn that wonderful chili made by the other lady into an improvised explosive device.

We as Americans could and should sleep better knowing the feds are doing such a great job with our tax dollars.

LEONARD J. KULWICKI
Morningside

---

The Darfur crisis

The ongoing crisis in Darfur is a catastrophe. After years of chanting "never again" in reference to the horrors of the Holocaust and Rwanda, we once again sit idly by and do nothing to prevent the ongoing suffering and systematic killing of millions of people.

The situation is not acceptable. It is time for us to stand up for what we believe in and truly help our fellow man. A famous quote explains that evil prospers when good people do nothing. I applaud the Senate's attempts to achieve a solution in Darfur. However, such limited action is not enough. Genocide is not acceptable. It was not acceptable in Auschwitz, and it is not acceptable in Darfur. Prolonged inaction by the United States would be inconceivable.

Suffering occurs worldwide. However, the United States has the power to do something great to restore our place as the recognized benevolent superpower that we are. We need to demand that the African Union be replaced and that U.N. peacekeeping forces be allowed to enter Sudan as the primary peacekeeping authority. If necessary, although limited by the Iraq war, U.S. military action should be used to prevent further systematic killing of black Africans. We cannot continue to deceive the world and ourselves by refusing to acknowledge the present situation as genocide. It must be dealt with.

The perpetrators must be stopped. The death toll is already far too high, and each day we delay, many more lives are lost.

PENELOPE BISSETT
Oakland

---

See the strategy?

The July 9 article "Santorum Bets on Immigration in Re-Election Race" should be a must-read for all Pennsylvania voters.

The article does a great job of pointing out the strategy of making illegal immigration a hot-button issue for voters in this state to divert our attention from issues of much greater importance to Pennsylvanians. Passage of either proposed legislation will have zero impact on 99 percent of Pennsylvanians, yet our politicians want this issue to be in the forefront of the upcoming election.

Illegal immigration should be as important to the citizens of Pennsylvania as the forecast for the upcoming hurricane season -- important if you are traveling elsewhere but not really our concern.

The fact that Pennsylvania is not a destination for the desperate should be of greater concern to us. Even the desperate see little opportunity here.

I hope the citizens of this state will not fall for this tried and true political tactic of convincing the masses that a small group is to blame for their dissatisfaction, not those in charge.

WM. JAKE FRIEL
Renfrew

---

No more 'what-ifs'

I feel so bad for Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O'Connor. What must he be thinking as he is lying there in his hospital bed watching the news and reading the paper? The media bloodhounds have practically written his obituary already. All of this speculation and what-ifs about the future of the city are getting ridiculous ("Mayor Faces Aggressive Cancer Treatment," "Ravenstahl First in Line to Replace Mayor," July 11). Of course, it would be expected that his staff would discuss -- in private -- who might take over if that becomes necessary, but do we have to read about it every day in the paper and hear about it on every TV newscast?

Let the chemo do its work. Give the man time to recover. From what I have read and observed on television, Mr. O'Connor seems like a fighter who loves his city and its people and will do whatever it takes to continue that fight.

I go to Pittsburgh often to visit my daughter. In fact, I plan to move there when I retire in a few years. I have faith that Mayor O'Connor will still be there "redding up" the city and getting out into the neighborhoods to talk to the residents about their needs and concerns.

TONI YATES
Ford City

---

Impeachment drive

A nationwide movement to impeach President Bush will be launched on Wednesday starting with coordinated town hall meetings across the United States.

The reasons for impeachment are quite obvious -- lying to invade Iraq, warrantless surveillance, ordering torture at Guantanamo and subverting the constitutional separation of powers. Aside from the important issue of accountability, the urgent need to remove him stems from people's justified fear that President Bush's hopelessly irrational governing circle will likely escalate their drive for world domination after the November elections.

Already bogged down in unwinnable wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, this frighteningly messianic leader is now rattling nuclear sabres at Iran.

With a disgraceful Democratic Party hierarchy aiding and abetting the president's ruinous policies, only an independent grass-roots moral force has any hope of applying enough political pressure to avert further catastrophe.

State Sen. Jim Ferlo and Code Pink: Women for Peace are calling on Pittsburghers to gather Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Union Project (corner of Negley and Stanton in Highland Park) and enlist in a citizen-led impeachment campaign that will declare a new direction for America's future.

ALBERT PETRARCA
Highland Park

---

Steelers fans deserved better from Big Ben

It is a shame. As a matter of fact, I think it is a slap in the face of all the Steelers fans in this great town of ours. I was appalled to read the article "Surprise: Big Ben at ESPYs" (July 13). The fans of Pittsburgh deserved to hear from Ben Roethlisberger first.

For goodness sake, fans held a vigil at the hospital the night of his motorcycle accident, and throngs of well-wishers clamored to express their heartfelt good wishes to the Roethlisberger family.

Additionally, as a testament to the accident that was felt throughout the community, news coverage seemed almost endless and some in the state Legislature have called for a re-examination of the motorcycle helmet law.

Well enough to travel to Hollywood? Hmmmmm ... Why not share a few words at the Three Rivers Regatta or the All-Star Game?

Ben Roethlisberger better hope the upcoming season bodes well for him. Realistically, I hope for him that it is better than mediocre or he will have a lot of explaining to do. I trust he remembers the names Maddox, O'Donnell and Stewart.

In this town, a quarterback is really only as good as his last game. In Ben's case, he may be only as good as his last accident, which he was repeatedly warned about.

JOHN VATER
Brookline

---