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♦ SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2006 4A Jiimsimt .ljuunuil OPINION Daniel F. Evans Editor and Publisher Julie B. Evans Vice President Don Moncrief Foy S. Evans Managing Editor Editor Emeritus An easy target The media are having their usual feed ing frenzy over an Associated Press report that thousands of U.S. troops are being barred from overseas duty because they are so deep in debt they are considered a security risk. Why does that make them a security risk? Well, it’s not in the AP report - albeit plenty of other details are, so it’s worth a good read - but, believe it or not, there are still spies in the world. In fact it used to be standard operating procedure - probably still is - that you were given an initial briefing and at least an annual follow-up to keep you on guard of such. The concern was: If you’re in debt, you’re a potential target for brib ery. And that in turn could lead to U.S. secrets being compromised - in exchange for money. That’s pretty easy to figure out. Why there are so many in debt is also easy to figure out. But, to fix the problem that’s going to take some work and, some coopera tion “outside” the military. Here’s the typical pattern in the life of a single - mainly the males - GI. He enlists. He goes through basic train ing, training for his career field and then arrives at his next duty station. He gets paid. It’s not a big paycheck by industry standards, but to some - maybe a lot - it’s huge. They’ve never seen that kind of money before. Now, they’re also living in the dorm where their buddies have bought cars and enor mous stereos, the latest and greatest in TVs - basically anything electronic draws a drool. It becomes a “keep up with the Jones.” And, here’s the kicker. Credit companies are none too happy to oblige. Gls are a per fect mark. In fact, we mentioned the feed ing frenzy of the media. Compared to them we are but minnows in a world of sharks. “Buy now! Pay later.” And they do. And they do. And now we as a country apparently are, too. Letter to the Editor Religion-less government In Tuesday’s Houston Daily Journal it is reported that during the Marshall-Collins debate last week, when asked about faith and politics, one debater said we have gone too far in taking religion out of government. The other said we should follow our founding fathers and keep the government out of religion, but allow religion in the government. It is appalling how little these two debaters know about our founding fathers. The Reverend Doctor Bird Wilson, an Episcopal minister in Albany, N.Y., in a ser mon in October, 1831 preached the following. “The founders of our nation were nearly all Infidels, and that of the presidents who had thus far been elected: (Washington; Adams; Jefferson; Madison; Monroe; Adams; Jackson) not a one had professed a belief in Christianity. Among all our presidents from Washington downward, not one was a professor of religion, at least not of more than Unitarianism.” Do the debaters’ statements mean they would both sup port a Taliban type of government where religion is the government? If not where would they draw the line? Do these debaters actually believe their own statements or are they just engaging in theatrics to garner evangelical votes. It has been said that religion is an effective way to con trol the masses. That being the case, I feel that if religion is professed to be an essential ingredient in national or local government, that government is afraid of its people. Religion should have no role to play in government or in politics - none at all. Walter Huckeba, Perry Send your Letters to the Editor to: The Houston Daily Journal P.O. Box 1910 • Perry, Ga 31069 or Email: hhj@evansnewspapers.com The concern was: If you're in debt, you're a potential target for bribery. And that in turn could lead to U.S. secrets being compromised - in exchange for money. Housing issue no 'small' task to solve The Houston County Commissioners cannot do any thing about zoning of proposed annexations by the city of Perry, but it seems that they have a good point in expressing disapproval. Perry has been approving some Planned Use Developments in the past, which is a way to permit the packing of small homes onto small lots. Now two proposed subdivisions could create many problems, according to the commissioners, who point to increased density and impact on county roads. If approved, the subdivisions would have 3,300 small homes on 1,200 acres. That is real density. Commissioners also contend that the proposed subdivisions are “not in the spirit of a PUD” in the words of Commissioner Tom McMichael. A home could be built on a lot of only 6,000 square feet. That’s smaller than the size of some homes in the subdivision where I live (not mine). I can understand owners of adjacent homes being upset. Small homes in such large numbers on miniature lots will change the nature of the neighbor hood. While Warner Robins and unincor porated Houston County are growing with large homes and spacious lots, the trend in Perry seems to be in a different direction. Still, Warner Robins recently approved housing on 7,500 square foot lots. Considering the demand for new homes in our county, it seems that developers would create larger lots in their subdivisions if they had to. Of course, from their standpoint they want to sell some homes as cheaply as pos sible and, to do so, must (1) get as many lots as possible per acre and (2) build homes small enough that some people with lower incomes can afford them. f OK> ARE 1 f YOU GOING TO VOTE ON 4 LEGALIZING ?OG s bE9l>lON ] ,0F /AN OUNCE OF MAFITHANApJ rfcUT YOU ORINK6EEP - THEY ] ( GAY BOOZE 16 MORE HARM • J L FUL TMAN GRAG>6, r fj rYEFVTWATG WHAVy\r Vthey gay rJ* V A reality check for Angelina Jolie Hollywood actress and United Nations spokesmodel Angelina Jolie is wagging her finger at the West for its indifference to refu gees. “It’s a scandal, really, in such a rich world, that we are not even finding a way to help feed refugee families prop erly,” Jolie vented in the latest issue of the U.N.’s Refugees Magazine. The movie star, a U.N. “good will ambas sador” since 2001, singled out America and Australia as insensitive countries that are turning their backs on the persecuted. Many refugees have “died trying to get to the U.S. and Australia,” she writes. “But we don’t notice. We are simply affronted by their audac ity.” Jolie bemoaned a photo taken on an unidentified beach in Spain in 2002, which showed a couple relaxing under an umbrella not far from the washed up corpse of a black man (presumably a refugee, but who knows?). Her solu tion to this supposed crisis of callous ness? “[M]ore resources invested in the regions the refugees first move to, so they don’t feel they have to move on unless they really want to; and more resources for countries where peace has been established.” Increasing aid to a corrupt glob al bureaucracy may give comfort to Hollywood liberals. (How, by the way, does Jolie think peace'is “established”? With a magic wand? By wishing it so? By relying on feckless blue helmets who coddle jihadists and other thugs?) In the land of make-believe, Jolie’s call to pour more tax dollars into the U.N. refugee agency’s coffers might well help to stem the refugee tide. But in OPINION The decision is in the hands of Perry city officials. Of course, the economy thrives on supply and demand and it could be pointed out that small houses on small lots is where the action will be in the future. Any decision the Perry officials make will be a balancing act’ ■ ■■ As the week comes to a close some items have begun gathering dust, wait ing for comments: ■ The city of Escondido, Calif., is fac ing the problem of illegal immigrants head-on. The city council is passing an ordinance to prevent landlords from renting to illegal immigrants. I wonder how that will fly in left-wing California. The situation is so bad there that they probably will approve of something they would condemn in another part of the country. ■ Believe it or not carjackers beat up an aide of New York City’s mayor in mid-morning and stole the mayor’s car. Nobody’s safe anymore. ■ The Warner Robins Rotary Club roasted State Representative Willie Talton this week. Those of us who have known Willie a long time are proud of him for many reasons. I first knew him when he was sack ing groceries at the Thrifty Foods store (closed long ago) with that same smile he wears today. With all his success he always has been - and still is - a nice guy. T WELL, l ALWATG A6K ■ f MYEELF, "AM 1 VOTING 1 \ FOE SOMETHING THAT WILL ] I HELP PEOPLE OR HURT J K PEOPLE r 6O VF YOU HAVE A FIGHT 1 f TO PRINK SEEP,GHODLDN'T 1 \ VteVEARIGHT TO L 6MOKE POT? ©2006 CREATORS SYNDICATE. INC Wmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. W Michelle ml. Jjl Columnist malkin@comcast.net the real world, it will only perpetuate exploitation. The well-read actress ought to read up on the Kenyan bribery scandal that has plagued the U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR. You want to talk about scandal? For years, U.N. staff men>bers in Nairobi shook down African refugees seek ing resettlement in North America, Europe and Australia while the U.N. looked the other way. The extortion racket charged up to $5,000 a head for resettlement rights. Belated investiga tions found that the scandal wasn’t the result of a few rogue workers but of negligent management that created a ripe atmosphere for abuse. You want to talk about callousness? Tell it to female and child refugees across the Congo who have been vic timized by sexual predators protected among the ranks of U.N. peacekeep ers and civilian staff. Last year, some 50 U.N. peacekeepers and U.N. civil ian officers faced an estimated 150 allegations of sexual exploitation and rape in the Congo alone. The abuse is widespread among U.N. personnel - from the Central African Republic to Bosnia and Eastern Europe. Again, these refugees were exploited while Foy Evans Columnist loyevansl9@cox net - ' ©2006 CREATORS SYNDICATE. INC HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL ■ Ham Nunn is in the spotlight again. This time he suggests that bilateral talks between the United States and North Korea is a good idea. If anyone is knowlejgeable enough to know, he sure ly is. I cm understand President Bush’s reluctame to enter directly into talks with Noth Korea, since our country was snookered by them when President Clinton e\tered into an agreement brokered b former President Jimmy Carter. Periaps our negotiators could be less naivenext time. ■ Televisinj talking heads and the national medg are telling us relent lessly that the of Rep. Mark Foley of Florida is having impact on the congressional eiction. Maybe. But not in our area, as fa as I can tell. We will elect t congressman - Jim Marshall or Mac Hollins - based on our best interests, I vm sure. And what Foley did in WashJigton will not have any effect on our v<tes for one of these candidates. ■ Talk apparently e still on the table concerning a confererte center financed jointly with private arj public money. I’m not convinced tl?re is a need for one, but if someone wfh deep pockets wants to build one, I sajgo ahead. Just don’t obligate me and oher taxpayers. I mentioned the possibilty of Warner Robins attracting conventions to a woman friend recently aid she asked, “Why would anyone hold \ convention in Warner Robins?” I left i(at that. ■ Not long ago a school lystem out lawed playing dodge ball ly students because it is “dangerous.” N«w another school district goes that absirdity one more step by banning touch botball or other touch sports because it is “dan gerous.” How far will some people go interfering with young people’: normal activities in order to protect hem? I wonder if they would approve tiddly wink?. I 60...Y0U ARE 601 NiG TO VOTE AGAINST IT ~Tyep?) "Sr fMk M r : ■ HOPE - TWO VRONG6 W ■ O>ONT MAVE A "RIGHT r -S* 10 Qb AW U.N. management fiddled. You want to talk about faling to take notice? As Claudia Rosett las reported in The Wall Street Journd, the U.N. refugee agency sits on its hinds while some 300,000 North Koreai refugees have endured decades of tbuse and hopelessness underground ii China - where the $4.4 million-fundee UNHCR office is fortified against refugee intru sions. You want to talk about wasted resources? That $lO billion Saddam Hussein siphoned off in the UN. Oil for-Food debacle could have feda lot of hungry people. Jolie excoriates the West for rethink ing lax asylum and refugee policies in a post-Sept. 11 world (even as the U.S. has just announced it will take in some 13,000 refugees from Burundi who have spent 30 years in Tanzania). But porous borders have aided jihad ists from Bali to London to Berlin to Copenhagen to Melbourne to Boston. Unlike jet-setting celebrities, the rest of us can’t fret about feeding every last one of the world’s refugees when the survival of our own children’s home land is at stake. No amount of ignorant Hollywood guilt-tripping can whitewash the United Nations’ abject humanitar ian failures. And no sovereign country should apologize for taking steps, to look after its own first. Angelina would do best to tuck her sanctimonious finger away and return to fantasyland. Michelle Malkin is author cf the new book “Unhinged: Exposing Liberals Gone Wild.” Her e-mail address is writemalkint&gmail.com.