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Letters

FREE ELECTION ACHIEVED

On Aug. 20, the people of Afghanistan held their second presidential election since coalition forces liberated this country from the Taliban. Afghanistan’s election day was marred by widespread and deadly Taliban attacks, patchy turnout and claims of serious fraud by some of the candidates [“Danger and democracy,” Aug. 31]. But many voters bravely defied the militants’ threats and exercised their franchise across “the Republic.”

I use the term republic, because that is what the nation of Afghanistan has become — a representative democracy with all the trappings of success and failure that comes with a democratic process.

Our Afghan and coalition soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines were on the front lines, helping ensure the elections were held and protecting the citizens from the evil machinations of the Taliban and Haqqani thugs. These terrorists see free elections, women exercising their right to vote and a free press as a threat to their outdated and sad devotion to a misguided form of misogynistic politics. Our freedom fighters stood their ground against these evil miscreants and ensured a free election.

While many in our nation believe that the war cannot be won, it is important to remember we still owe a debt to the nearly 3,000 men and women who died on Sept. 11 — a debt that cannot be paid with a check to your local charity. To give ground in Afghanistan is both an insult to the dead who have sacrificed in this war and emboldens the enemies of humanity to do their worst. We must accept that nothing less than total victory must be achieved to ensure the future of generations to come.

Lt. Col. Jayson A. Altieri

Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan

CAUSE FOR EQUALITY

In his letter, 1st. Lt. Eric Lantz misses the point of removing “don’t ask, don’t tell” [“Keep ‘don’t ask’ in place,” Aug. 17].

The goal is to ensure that all soldiers, regardless of sexual orientation, have the chance to serve without threat of separation. Arguing that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender soldiers would have some kind of status above that of straight soldiers is ridiculous, as current equal opportunity programs do not elevate female soldiers above males, blacks above whites, etc. In fact, prevention of sexual harassment programs already levels the playing field, emphasizing that neither sex has more rights than the other.

2nd Lt. Amelia Thatcher

Glassboro, N.J.

STRIVING FOR SATISFACTION

I was deeply concerned to read the letter from retired Sgt. Maj. Lary G. Hall [“Cost isn’t everything,” Aug. 10] about the lack of customer service he experienced at his commissaries.

The Defense Commissary Agency takes great pride in offering outstanding service. In fact, our customer service consistently earns high ratings from our patrons on customer satisfaction surveys. Nevertheless, we understand that occasionally problems do occur, and when they do, we encourage customers to notify their store director immediately so that the situation can be addressed. Customers may also contact DeCA Headquarters using the “Your Action Line” cards provided in our stores or the customer comments form at www.commissaries.com.

DeCA receives produce from numerous suppliers to guarantee that we obtain the best produce available, and it is commissary policy to reject produce that is not of the highest quality and freshness.

Because each of these suppliers provides its own packaging, bar codes are not used consistently for the same product so we offer a “Quick Look-Up Display” at self-checkouts that allows customers to indicate the products they are buying by selecting images. We are developing a method of remotely updating these displays so that new produce items can be added quickly. We are also working to automatically link produce pricing information to existing bar codes so customers can scan these items, but this is a long-term solution.

Command Sgt. Maj. Victor M. Garcia

Senior Enlisted Advisor, Defense Commissary Agency

Fort Lee, Va.

A BETTER ‘UNIVERSAL’

I found your article about the Army Combat Uniform’s Universal Camouflage Pattern captivating [“Camo consensus,” Aug. 17].

Back in 2003, when the Army was looking at a new uniform, I wrote, and you published, a letter I sent saying we should adopt the Marine Corps’ digital patterns.

I believed then that one pattern cannot be universal. I’ve changed my mind since I’ve seen with my own eyes the performance of MultiCam.

I was flabbergasted when the Army adopted the “universal” camouflage. I think they called it universal because you have to venture to the moon in order to blend in with anything. I call it “gravel-flage” because, besides the moon, the only other place you’ll blend in is when you lay down on gravel.

I’m writing to tell you two things: 1. The adoption of this universal pattern is criminal, embarrassing and has possibly resulted in lives lost and the wasting of millions of taxpayer dollars. Why MultiCam didn’t win, I don’t know.

2. The best thing the Army can do is, as rapidly as possible, adopt Crye Precision’s MultiCam or Mirage Camo from Bulldog Tactical Equipment. As an owner of MultiCam, which I use for hunting, I can tell you that I have had friends tell me they did not see me from ranges as close as 10 meters.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Wayne Grimes

Fort Lewis, Wash.

CIVIL AFFAIRS SOLUTION

In regards to civil affairs, the new growing arm of the Army and its critical shortage of officers to run teams: I work in civil affairs and manage a company in the Army Reserve Civil Affairs system. I am at a loss as to why the Army continues to slot the civil affairs teams to be run by captains. In reality, most teams are run and managed by staff sergeants, sergeants first class or master sergeants, who more often than not have to do their enlisted jobs and concurrently fill the job of the missing officers. Why can’t the Army just convert the E-7 who has been doing both jobs now for years into a warrant officer position?

Just think of all the wasted resources in continuing to keep slotting O-3s for this job. In the real world, where a good captain is worth his weight in gold, you will not find them in the numbers needed to man the civil affairs teams. Even if you do find one, he stays there for a maximum of two years and you are back to square one in finding a replacement.

A warrant officer is more than capable of running a civil affairs team. The command presence is still there and the authority and respect of an officer is also met.

Sgt. 1st Class Terrence Popp

Berkley, Mich.