Letters to the editor

Editor,

In the Jan. 12, 2009 Daily Journal, there was an article in regards to increased garbage rate or tax. I do not blame them because stealing recycling materials from bins is common, especially in Millbrae. On Jan. 5, the night before pickup, I noticed a woman digging in my recycling bin around 7 p.m. I told her she was not allowed to do so and she ran away. I called police and reported what had happened but the officers reply was shocking. "We cannot do anything, it is the scavenger company’s responsibility.” I asked her, if someone is entering my trash, what kind of security do I have on my property and what is the use of police that is using my tax money? Her reply was, "That is the law.” They dispatched two officers to my address, but it was too late and the suspect was gone.

The way the officers explained the suspect, it seems they knew her from before. The same woman was in my recycle bin again Jan. 12. I have to pay more collecting fees because there is no law to protect me from illegal matters in this city.

Hamlet Petrosian

Millbrae

No pardon for former border patrol agents

Editor,

An Associated Press article in the Daily Journal, (Tuesday July 20, 2009) has revealed the reason that the Bush administration had stubbornly resisted a pardon for former border patrol agents Ignatio Ramos and Jose Compeon for almost two years. They were convicted, largely, because the prosecutor claimed that they violated the border patrol pursuit policy.

Mexico’s Security for Foreign Relations Carlos Rico spilled the beans when he stated that he condemned the decision (for the commuted sentences) and that Mexican officials had lobbied hard against it. He also complained that, "This was a message of impunity. It’s hard to understand.” Well, his remarks certainly takes the mystery out of why Presidente Bush was unwilling to pardon two agents. You also have to ask yourself if the Mexican officials weren’t the ones putting the pressure on the Bush administration to prosecute them in the first place.

What is extremely bizarre is that Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila, the star witness for the federal prosecutors, was the drug smuggler that the two agents were trying to apprehend. He was given immunity and a series of visas to roam free in our country, in spite of the fact that he was previously caught twice at the border with over a million dollars worth of illegal drugs in his van. At that time, federal prosecutor Johnny Sutton refused to prosecute him with the condition that he would testify against the two agents. It should seem obvious that Sutton did not want to taint his case by allowing the jury to know that Davila had been caught twice for smuggling illegal drugs.

At the onset of their sentences, key members of the Senate as well as a hundred members of Congress supported a pardon, claiming that the sentences didn’t match the crime and that the drug smuggler was given all of the breaks (by Sutton) and the border patrol agents received none of the breaks. What is the real reason that Bush, our so-called "compassionate” president, was unwilling to listen to them until now?

Another question that needs to be answered is why would the Foreign Relations Secretary of Mexico even gives a darn about this case when his country is on the verge of being over run by the illegal drug cartel. President Obama must end the Bush policy of lax border enforcement. He could also have Ramos and Compeon out of prison immediately (instead of having to serve almost two more months) by signing a new pardon.

Bob McAdam

Belmont

Caltrain should increase bike capacity

Editor,

I’m writing to you to thank Caltrain for planning to increase onboard bike capacity. I commute each day from Ingleside Heights in San Francisco to Sunnyvale where I work at Yahoo!. I ride down to Millbrae and very much enjoy the train. I believe Caltrain should increase the capacity to at least 80 bicycles per train. This could be achieved by removing 5 percent of the seats for bikes.

Expanding the bikes-on-board program would increase revenue through increased ridership and reduce traffic congestion and pollution.

Please increase capacity as suggested. I don’t like getting bumped. It is very difficult to plan for.

Douglas Campbell

San Francisco

Terrorism: The problem and the solution

Editor,

Samia Shoman, Jan. 15, is opposite to the truth.

The self defense by Israel was provoked by Hamas Palestinian terrorists firing thousands of rockets into Israel. There is no excuse for this crime, and to justify it is to condone it.

Israel has allowed some humanitarian supplies and energy to go to Haza even while there is a war going on. The reason for Israel control of access and exit from Gaza is because of their terrorism. The solution is for Hamas to stop the terrorism and give up its impossible goal of destruction of Israel.

Norman Licht

San Carlos

Israel’s operations in the Gaza Strip

Editor,

Joseph Eydelnant ("Israel’s operations in the Gaza Strip” in the Jan. 19 editon of the Daily Journal) needs to educate himself on the issue of Palestine and Israel. He wrongly states that Israel is a sovereign nation because a sovereign nation has defined borders and a constitution. Israel has neither. The reality is there is a 60-year illegal occupation of Palestine by the Zionists and Khazars.

When the Zionists ended their illegal occupation of Gaza, they still controlled all movement in and out of the strip. When Hamas was democratically elected, the Zionists wanted to show "their support” for democracy and imposed an 18-month blockage of Gaza.

It was the Zionists who broke the cease fire on Nov. 4 when the Zionists invaded Gaza and killed seven Palestinians. Hamas had no choice, but to retaliate.

Of the 1,300 Palestinians killed and 5,400 wounded, only 95 were anti-occupation fighters. The Zionists bombed hospitals, schools, Mosques and U.N. food and medical warehouses. The Zionists showed a total disregard for civilian life.

The crisis in Palestine is far from over and won’t be until the cancer that is Zionism is removed from Palestine.

Frank Scafani

San Bruno