Donut controversy will cost lots of money
Re: “Krispy Kreme brings Pr. William into sewer suit,” Sept. 13 When fat-headed corporate chieftains and egotistical politicians go head-to-head, the first casualty is common sense. The next is stockholders’ and taxpayers’ money. For $1.9 million in alleged sewer repairs from Krispy Kreme’s baking waste, Fairfax County is suing for $17 million in penalties-almost ten times the actual damage. Krispy Kreme is suing the adjoining county, even though it doesn’t control the sewage treatment plant or the part of the sewer that failed. And what exactly do they use to make donuts that is so toxic it isn’t allowed in the sewer system? Instead of this high-stakes game, sensible business and government leaders would drop the penalties in exchange for Krispy Kreme agreeing to a list of acceptable waste products and making a $1.9 million tax-deductible corporate contribution to repairing the sewer. In exchange, Fairfax County would agree to a set of engineering standards to prevent a repeat. Otherwise, they will spend more on legal bills than the cost of fixing the sewer!
Dino Drudi
Alexandria
Congress must question ‘rules of engagement’
Re: “Afghan war rules endanger U.S. troops,” Sept. 13
My compliments to Diana West for focusing on the loony-tune “rules of engagement” that have cost the lives of American troops in Afghanistan. If we had fought World War II the same way we are fighting this current war, the U.S. and its Allies would have lost. Who issues these rules of engagement and under what specific legal authority do they act? Aren’t they inconsistent with the congressional resolutions that authorize the use of military force? And where is the congressional oversight that should prevent the administration from protecting Afghan/enemy civilians at the expense of American soldiers’ lives? A standing committee on the conduct of this war is long overdue.
E. Whitney Drake
Burke
McCain, of all people, is targeting Dulles Rail
It seems a little disingenuous that Sen. John Mc Cain seeks to cut “pork barrel spending” by proposing to remove $85 million from the FY 2010 Department of Transportation Appropriations bill earmarked for the Federal Transit Administration’s New Starts Program – funds specifically set aside for Phase One of Dulles Rail. Isn’t this the same John Mc Cain who corrupted the 1,500-mile limit on flights from Reagan National Airport so that he wouldn’t have to make that difficult trip to Dulles for his flights home to Phoenix? And what about water projects benefiting the Arizona desert – to be paid for by the rest of us? Boy, would he have been a boon to the citizens of Washington had he inhabited the White House. In McCain’s defense, he probably does need the money to spend on more important projects in Alaska.
David A. Edwards
Reston
