This is Viewpoints for Friday, Nov. 27, 2015
Why the delay?
Rome wasn't built in a day. Yet we would just now see the Colosseum's foundation laid if the task fell to the same crews handling the Sardis Church Road extension. For months I have seen little progress on the connector, which is supposed to link Interstate 75 with Interstate 16 near the airport. Since the Georgia Department of Transportation let the contract almost a year ago nothing has been done other than planting orange barrels and clearing off land. A few plumbers have been at work in spots. A half-mile of utility lines was moved near Goodall Mill Road. But are these just a few more drops in the bucket?
It is unfair that residents along the proposed path have to deal with the inconvenience of torn-up yards. Such a massive project demands all hands on deck and more resources devoted to the task while the weather is good. Winter is upon us now that GDOT and its contractor lost a golden opportunity to accomplish so much.
I do not see the Sardis Church Road extension as a panacea for Bibb's economic woes. Our county's problems go deeper than any road can fix. We need the connector to bleed traffic off Ga. 247 and Hartley Bridge Road. If we are going to build it, we might as well be diligent about it. I would like to hear from GDOT and the Macon-Bibb commissioners concerning the delay in construction.
— Kenneth A. Turner
Macon
Steps to end ISIS
I have tremendous admiration of the Marine Corps, but I do not think the Army is as plodding as Col. Avery Chenoweth implies. I do not think a large American ground force in Iraq and Syria will resolve the conflicts in the region. The Arab Muslims do not want us, or our form of government, or our culture in their countries. They want our help to establish their own government and culture.
The Middle East is a quagmire of religious and ethnic strife. Iran is supporting the Iraqi government to dominate its Sunni and Kurdish populations and the Syrian government to dominate its Sunni population. Russia is supporting the Syrian government in their civil war to dominate their Sunni population. Russia's goal in Syria is to expand its naval base and establish an air base. This will increase their influence in the Mediterranean region. Russia has joined with France to bomb ISIS. Russia is cooperating with European countries to stop ISIS terrorist attacks. The Kurds are trying to establish a homeland in Iraq. Turkey wants to limit the establishment of a Kurdish homeland to just Iraq. Saudi Arabia and the other Arab countries want to contain Iran's influence in the region. I do not think they want to fight other Sunni Muslims. They will bomb Shiite Muslims in Yemen.
ISIS is trying to establish a Sunni only Caliphate in the Arabian peninsula. To this end they have gained control of large portions of Iraq and Syria, including most of their oil fields. ISIS cannot defeat the Iraqi and Syrian military in a conventional war. Therefore, they are using terrorist tactics against them and their supporters; Russia, France and us.
What can we do? First we must provide target information to any country willing to bomb ISIS facilities. And we have to provide command and control of the air space over Syria and Iraq to preclude conflicts amongst the participants.
Second, we must train and equip the Kurds to fight the Islamic State forces in Iraq and defend their homeland. Then we have to train and equip the moderate non-ISIS Sunnis in Iraq to drive the Islamic State fighters out of their territory.
Third, we must form a coalition of Arab countries to destroy ISIS and stop the growth of Iran's influence. It is the responsibility of the Arab countries with our help to drive ISIS out of Syria and Iraq. Until this is done they are all vulnerable to terror attacks and eventually ISIS occupation of their countries.
Forth, we must train and equip the moderate non-ISIS Sunnis in Syria to fight the Islamic State. After ISIS is destroyed in Syria we must work with the principles to end the civil war. After ISIS is destroyed in Iraq we must work with the principles to establish autonomous regions.
Fifth, we must use Special Forces to conduct raids on selected ISIS's targets.
Sixth, we must work with our allies to end ISIS's ability to sell oil and other products and disrupt their ability to obtain funds.
If allied bombing and Special Forces raids do not destroy ISIS's ability to control territory and conduct terror attacks, we must carpet bomb ISIS positions until they cease to exist.
— Jim Costello
Perry
This story was originally published November 26, 2015 at 8:10 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Friday, Nov. 27, 2015 ."