<TITLE>Iraq letters to the editor</TITLE>

A few of the many Letters To The
Editor written by Freddie L.
Sirmans, Sr. over the years.

Freddie L. Sirmans is not educated, but he is a fairly well read neurotic survivor
Caution: Freddie L. Sirmans books are definitely not feel good books. Read at your own risk the raw buck naked truth.

Letters to the editor published Sunday June 19, 2005 Valdosta,
Georgia USA.
I. Low tech solution worth a try.

As a creative thinker, I get tired of the roadside bombs killing our boys in Iraq. There have
been much success with high tech, but I think some low tech methods should be considered.
Using low tech we could try some changes on the way the road shoulders are graded over
there. Some safety would have to be sacrificed, but a different shoulder grading method could
at least be tried. The engineers could decide how to do it, but a stair step downward method
of grading the road shoulder could make it harder to conceal bombs and wires.

Later unpublished updates:
Other possibilities like stringing small wire or other means could be tested. With the sand over
there it may not work but anything is worth a try. Another thing that should be tried is to give
the people free cell phones that will only dial a tip line number. The whole country should be
flooded with these phones because no one would know who called if everybody had a phone.

Freddie L. Sirmans, Sr.
Valdosta, GA. USA.

Letter to the editor published Wednesday, December 01, 2004 Valdosta,
Georgia USA.

I. Can technology keep pace with terrorists?

I recently saw in times magazine that the insurgents in Iraq use cell phones to set off
roadside bombs. Well, it's obvious the bell or vibrator is the key, here. They have to be able
to get between the bell and the phone printed circuit design. With today's technology, it
would be a simple matter to make phones where you couldn't get between the bell and the
circuit design without rendering the phone useless.
It's not a quick fix but with terrorist threats all over the world, it's something future phone
designers ought to do. The industrial countries ought to demand it. Plus, any additional
cost should be very small, if any.
                                                              Freddie L. Sirmans, Sr.
                                                              Valdosta, Georgia USA

PS: Todays date is January 29, 2005, much have changed
       since this letter was published back on December 01, 2004.

Letter to the editor published Sunday, November 08, 2003 Valdosta, Georgia
USA.

I. United States holds trump card in Iraq.

In Iraq, the United States is holding the winning hand, but in my view it does matter how the
cards are played. You first have to have peace and security before democracy can take root.
Sure, the terrorists can hide and create fear and intimidation, but the United States holds the
trump card; control over the purse strings. That means a lot if the cards are played right.
The way I see it is, zoned identification cards should be issued to all adults. There don't seem
to be any other way with our boys being picked off almost daily.
Hunger and a hope for a better life tends to make most people face and overcome fear. No
one should be hired or receive any kind of assistance unless they can show identification. The
next step is to hire as many Iraqis as possible to staff many, many check points. Reward or
punishment is always effective to some degree when properly used. It may take something
like a small amount of cash for them to come in and get their I.D. cards. It's the old carrot
or stick method, there is nothing uncivilized about that.
                                                                 Freddie L. Sirmans, Sr.
                                                                 Valdosta, Georgia USA

PS: Todays date is January 29, 2005, much have changed
       since this letter was published back on November 08, 2003.

Letter to the editor published August 22, 2003 Valdosta, Georgia USA.

I. Enemies can hide among Iraqi people.

The core problem in Iraq is the enemy's ability to hide within the populace, it's just that
simple. The ability of the bad guys to hide and operate within the populace is based on fear
and intimidation. The more the bad guys can make the populace fear them more than their
government of rulers, the better they can hide and not be exposed. Being a civilized nation
we can't regain the most feared status when everyone is mute by taking 10 lives for everyone
of ours picked off like many armies in the distance past.
Still, there is a lot that can be done like establishing zoned ID's and many checkpoints to try
and catch the bad guys. The bottom line is you can't make the populace support or love you,
but you can make them respect you. I don't have the answer and so far no one seems to, but
I do know that unless a way is found to get the populace to give up the bad guys, no lasting
progress can be made. Make no mistake about it, they know who the bad guys are.

                                                                 Freddie L. Sirmans, Sr.
                                                                Valdosta, Georgia USA

PS: Todays date is January 29, 2005, much have changed
       since this letter was published back on August 22, 2003.

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