Neutralize North Korean Threat
North Korea continues to expand its nuclear weapons program and is making progress in developing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of reaching the Western U.S. It is working on miniaturizing nuclear weapons to fit on ICBMs by early 2018, and it threatens to attack the U.S. with nuclear warheads.
North Korea is a virulent Communist country with a closed militaristic society governed by Kim Jong-un, who appears to be unstable and ready to aggressively use his military forces.
If North Korea reaches the point of being able to launch ICBMs against us, we might have to launch a pre-emptive conventional strike against their missile sites after beefing up the ground forces in South Korea and putting them on full alert. Hopefully, the Terminal High Altitude Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system in South Korea will intercept any missile attacks by North Korea.
We will probably have to deploy additional U.S. army, marines and air force units to Japan and possibly Korea and position a number of carrier battle groups off of North Korea prior to the pre-emptive strike.
Donald Moskowitz, Londonderry, N.H.
Moskowitz: Need Armed Security In Schools
Need Armed School Security Officers
The recent tragedy at a Connecticut school shooting points out the need for stronger security measures to help prevent or mitigate loss of life at our schools.
The emergency plans implemented at schools can minimize injuries and deaths, but cannot prevent them when confronted with determined shooters. Buzzers, cameras, identification cards and sign-in books will not stop shooters from forcibly entering schools.
One security measure that could counter the actions of shooters is the presence of armed security officers in every school. Granted, the killers might try to shoot the officers first, but the killers could be focused on shooting the students and teachers, and the officers could take out the shooters.
Another possibility would be to have trained administrators with weapons available to them in a locked and secure location.
Mentally competent people and non-felons may purchase weapons in accordance with the Second Amendment of our Constitution which allows citizens to bear arms, and this right should continue. However, should ordinary citizens, like the Newtown shooter, be allowed to purchase a bullet proof vest? The purchase of bullet proof vests should be a huge tip-off on the purchaser planning a shooting.
We need armed school security officers.
Donald A. Moskowitz, Londonderry, NH
Moskowitz: Trade Agreement To Hurt U.S.
The Obama administration is currently negotiating another free trade agreement, which will increase the likelihood of awarding federal contracts to foreign companies located on the Pacific Rim. Countries in Southeast Asia will benefit by the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), add jobs, while the U.S. could lose more manufacturing jobs.
If the TPP is approved by Congress, a provision in the agreement will ban “Buy American” requirements in federal government contracts. Over the past 80 years U.S. companies have received needed help in securing federal contracts due to “Buy American” provisions stipulated in the contracts.
In 2011 the Obama administration supported three so called fair trade agreements originally negotiated by the Bush administration. The policies of Bush and Obama have strengthened manufacturing operations in foreign countries and have led to the movement of U.S. jobs overseas. The TPP agreement would mean the U.S. could eliminate any tariffs on goods from the Asia-Pacific countries, which could cost more U.S. manufacturing jobs.
We have to make it more attractive for U.S. companies to keep jobs in this country. Maybe then we will decrease unemployment from near 8% to a more respectable 4% level and decrease our trade deficits with foreign countries.
Donald A. Moskowitz, Londonderry, NH
