SPEAKOUT

PRESIDENT BUSH SAYS read my lips. I'm reading them and he's talking out of both sides of his mouth. I thought he was pretty good to start out, getting those guys in Saudi Arabia in August, and we were really going to do something. We should have nuked them then and got our boys back here. Now we've given them time to dig in over there and really make trouble for us. I don't know what's going to happen. I just don't know.

I AGREE WITH Cmdr. McMananan. If the situation in the Middle East turns hot, the doctor in question will be needed there much worse than he is at home. I'm sure he can hire someone to help his family. He can't provide the same in that matter for those guys who are going to get shot up when this thing gets hot. Thank you, Cmdr. McMananan.

I'D JUST LIKE people to know I recently had a family member in a skilled nursing center and they had one nurse and one nurse's aide on days. The whole hall was filled with very sick people. God bless those two because they sure did come when the light came on. I know the other people were very sick because I talked to some of the families. On evenings and nights the nurses were so hateful you couldn't even stand to be around them. I do plan to get in touch with the Medicare people because they're the ones paying their salary.

I GUARANTEE I know how to end all wars. When the presidents declare war it should be their job to be on the front lines to lead the troops. Thank you.

I HAVE READ Kenneth McManaman's letter that you published in your paper this week and I feel compelled to say that whatever happened that made him write such a letter takes absolutely nothing away from the fact that these children need help.

THERE MUST BE some reason unknown to the American people why the situation in Kuwait is being brought down to the wire. What sanity is there in a small country such as Iraq going up against the United Nations unless Iraq has allies that we are not aware of who plan to knife us in the back? There may be more to this pending war than meets the eye. Japan certainly hasn't offered much help, nor have any of the other members of the United Nations. If you recall, Russia didn't declare war on Japan during World War II until two days after we dropped the atomic bomb. Thanks to John F. Kennedy our military belongs to the United Nations. Why are we always the ones to fight? Thank you.

RUSSIA'S EXCUSE for offering neither manpower nor money to fight this probable war with Iraq is that their country is in a mess right now and they are concentrating on saving their people. But it's okay for our people to die. I know it's easier to fight on the same side if your allies all speak the same language, but where is all of Great Britain's manpower?

I'D JUST LIKE to know why Bush is sticking his nose in Iranian business and killing all the people over there just like the president stuck his business in the Vietnam war and all those good men were killed. That's really a big shame, killing all those people. All these other nations aren't sticking their nose in and are saving their people. Thank you.

I THINK ILLINOIS had a great idea in sending T-shirts to all of the people in Illinois who are in Saudi Arabia. I think Missouri should follow suit and send all of our people from Missouri who are in Saudi camouflage T-shirts that say show me. Thank you.

WE KNOW THAT Iraq has missile bases. How do we know they don't have missiles or won't be supplied with missiles that will reach the United States? That scares me.

CONGRATULATIONS, COACH MANGELS and the Chaffee Red Devils, in your victory over Oak Ridge Friday night. Keep up the good work.

AS A VOTER and a taxpayer in Cape Girardeau County, in my opinion the county grand juries in this county have been jokes and uncalled-for expenses to the American taxpayers.

IF GEORGE BUSH commits our troops to war in the Persian Gulf against an infidel monarchy, then he is a traitor to our country and to the Christian faith.

OH, HOW I long for a president who is quick to declare war on drugs, hunger, hopelessness, unemployment, and illiteracy. What in the world has been done for our domestic issues?

I'D LIKE TO publicly thank our TV cable system for carrying C-SPAN II this weekend. It has certainly been enlightening and I appreciate it.

I WOULD LIKE to say that Pete Rose should be judged for his baseball abilities and not his off-field abilities. I think he should be in the Hall of Fame. Pete Rose was one of the greatest baseball players to ever play and he was good for the game. Thank you.

IN REGARD TO the letter by Mr. McMananan, his description of a terrible situation is splashy and it left me cold. I am a Vietnam veteran and also a man who lost a daughter to cancer. Caring for an ailing child and serving your country are both honorable, but which is really the higher calling? Thank you.

WE ARE NOT going to be able to do much anymore unless we set a better example in this country. We have so many crooks in our own government, everything is up for grabs under the Reagan years and now Bush. Who knows what to believe? I don't. There are drugs, blood to consider - a shortage of blood in time of war. Everything is going fine to hear them tell it, but is it worth it to lose our fathers, sons, brothers, grandsons and daughters? I think it is bad when we sell business to Japan. I guess it paid off for Reagan, who got $1 million as a gift. That was the second disgrace that Reagan did.

I'M GLAD TO see that Congress has finally put their support behind the president. Whatever decision he makes we should all be in one accord because, if we're not with him we're against him. Let's give President Bush our total support, whatever decision he makes at this time, and just keep this in our prayers that we will have peace. Thank you.

ALL WE ARE saying is put Heussin to death.

I READ IN Tuesday's paper that Congressman Emerson is all in favor of Bush's Persian Gulf policy. He told this to the reservists who were going to the gulf. Now, since Congressman Emerson is so much in favor of Bush's policy and since he is a reservist in the U.S. Air Force, I think he should demonstrate how much behind Bush he is by requesting the Defense Department to take him over there and put him right in front so that he can do some battling against someone for a change. Thank you.

An Emerson aide said the congressman, a captain in the Air Force Reserves, is on inactive status. As such, he would be the last to see military action, she said.