State of the Union: Iraq, New Orleans, our forests

PRESIDENT BUSH'S State of the Union address appeared to usher in a new era of good feeling, with language and initiatives that reach across the aisle. Except in the case of Iraq, over which Bush's "surge" strategy is being met with wide and increasingly bipartisan opposition, even derision, the leopard appears to be changing his spots.

But beware: We should take seriously Bush's oft-repeated and strongly felt warning that failure in Iraq is not an option and his repeated references to Iran. The warning flags are up; forces and justifications are being moved into place for a wider war. All that's needed is an incident to start one, and history tells us that incidents tend to happen when they are wanted. Congress would be stampeded into authorizing a much larger army, and the fat would be in the fire. I hope that our delegation in Congress would have the courage to say no.

CHRIS HORTON
Worcester

THE POLLS are against our president, many editors are against him, and many members of Congress are against his latest plan to send more troops to Iraq. Yet though you label Bush's attitude "monarchical" in your Jan. 23 editorial "Making Bush listen to reason," I can't see any other plans proposed that are very realistic when one considers the consequences to America's image in the world.

I think if Bush feels he is right, let's support his "surge" and commit the resources to make it work.

If his plan fails, he will have to live with this for the rest of his life and his legacy will be forever tainted.

If it works, then a bold move in the face of universal disbelief will certainly gain him a major place in US history.

LOUIS P. GEOFFRION
Manchester-by-the-Sea

I WAS more disappointed by President Bush's State of the Union address than I could have anticipated, because of his failure to discuss New Orleans and the serious problems still facing that city. Was he not the same president who stood in the French Quarter's Jackson Square, promising to "do whatever it takes" to restore this great American city? I guess the photo showing President Bush flying high over New Orleans several days after Hurricane Katrina struck was accurate in what it conveyed: He just doesn't care.

SIDNEY TRANTHAM
Boston

YOUR JAN. 24 editorial "State of disunion" accurately describes Bush's call for more ethanol production. You listed switchgrass and agricultural waste as better alternatives than corn, but did not include wood chips. Forest biomass is the one ethanol fuel that Bush did mention that would have a big effect on the environment of forested New England. We can expect intense pressure on our forest resource in the future

There is available biomass for energy in our forests. If it is harvested under sustainable forestry principles by licensed foresters, it can provide new markets for forest landowners , enhance the ecological values of our working forest lands, and help buffer our reserve lands. However, if this increased harvesting is done without sustainable forestry practices, it will be a disaster for our forests.

In Massachusetts we need to improve regulations to ensure sustainable forestry and put all such harvesting in the hands of licensed foresters. Fortunately, the state Forestry Committee is working on these issues. It is now time to finish the job, before it is too late.

ROBERT PERSCHEL
Holden
The writer is Northeast regional director of the Forest Guild.