Coast Guard a defense against terrorism
Coast Guard a defense against terrorism
After the horrific 9/11 event, and now Paris, I have a suggestion that should be heard.
I am a retired Coast Guard sailor and served in a port security unit during the Cold War in the 1950s patrolling Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors. We closely monitored incoming ships, cargoes and crew. A suspect ship was escorted to its berth by my small craft while a shore detail was alerted to await its arrival. Sentries were positioned at the gangplank on the dock and no one was allowed ashore without permission from USCG headquarters. Meanwhile, my boat remained attached to its water side. This sort of 24-hour surveillance was very effective against drug smuggling, dangerous cargo and questionable crews.
Now, I read on the USCG Internet, that the “Homeland Insecurity Administration” is considering thinning out or possibly doing away with one of the best security military service arms in the world, USCG, not to be compared to the Transportation Security Administration.
Hopefully the USCG will be transferred to the Department of the Navy where it belongs if a war is declared against our enemies in the Middle East and their continuing attacks against us and foreign allies. I am very proud to have served and I respect the professional military abilities of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Dick Medve
Hawi
Bring in CDC ASAP to combat dengue
With confirmed cases from many sites and with winter rains approaching, we are facing a serious threat to the health to everyone on the Big Island.
We need all the help we can get to eradicate this terrible virus before it becomes a permanent fixture.
Shouldn’t we be asking the Centers for Disease Control for emergency assistance as soon as possible?
Charlie Webb, MD
Kailua-Kona