Feds need to build PTSD center now

The long-awaited news of the killing of Osama bin Laden is testimony to the training, dedication, incredible courage and professionalism of our military men and women. My admiration and gratitude knows no bounds.

The news of the long-delayed post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment facility on the grounds of Tripler Medical Center is a different story. It is a regrettable, blatant example of the failure of the agencies involved to focus on the mission. That mission is to get the facility built and operating. That’s it. No excuses should be acceptable. Two or three years behind schedule is unconscionable.

The U.S. Veterans Administration and historic-preservation organizations can point fingers at each other, and, of course, at federal law, but that doesn’t get the job done.

A solution is to lock all of the responsible parties in a room until they produce operational building and staffing plans. I volunteer to hold the key.

Robert S. Sandla
Honolulu

Trump’s detectives can check bin Laden

Bravo to our president and our intelligence community, who have shown methodical perseverance, strategic planning and true leadership in pursuing and killing Osama bin Laden.

I am sure it is only a matter of time before Donald Trump questions the death of bin Laden and demands the long form of bin Laden’s death certificate, as well as the opportunity to personally review it for adequacy.

And now that they have some free time, maybe Trump’s investigators can go to Islamabad to do a little more sleuthing into the matter.

Jeff Merz
Waikiki

Bring troops home within 12 months

If I were the president, I would take this one great opportunity of Osama bin Laden’s death to announce to the nation that we have met our primary objective in Afghanistan and our troops will completely withdraw in 12 months.

Just like President Richard Nixon getting out of Vietnam, announce victory and get the heck out of an unwinnable and unpopular and costly situation.

Duke Matzen
Waikiki

Vengeance killings block path to peace

I may be one of the minority of humans who does not rejoice when vengeance is served. For me, it seems as if we are really no better than the villains of this world.

They kill 3,000 of us, we kill tens of thousands of them. I can’t see how peace will be realized in this world when vengeance is called justice. Forgiveness is the pathway to peace, not vengeance. I pray that this will all stop, as an eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.

Dan Shook
Kilauea

Birth certificates can easily be abused

Kathryn Kane asked about President Barack Obama’s birth certificate: "What is there to hide?" (Letters, Star-Advertiser, April 27).

If just anyone can get a certified copy of anybody else’s original birth certificate, that would open the door to that person stealing your identity or selling it to other unscrupulous people. Crooks could have a field day using your accounts before you knew they were even stolen.

I’m glad our state Department of Health has clamped down on vital statistics being released to Donald Trump and other outsiders. I realize that crooks can find information about you from other sources, but let’s not make it easy for them.

Gail Ouchi
Aina Haina

U.S. could use help for tornado victims

The recent tornadoes in the southern U.S. have been called among the worst natural disasters in modern history. I am confused. Where is all the kokua for Alabama? Not just from Hawaii, but from every country we have had a part in rescuing?

As a nation we are broke. We could use some help and money to rebuild our fellow Americans’ homes on the mainland. It’s time to start a fund.

Mika Lakanina
Waipahu

Public employees are not the problem

The Legislature and Gov. Neil Abercrombie expect public employees to work for free?

They’re ruining our state and they think it’s business as usual and keep spending while the little guy has to pay.

We did our part: two-week pay lag, two years of pay cuts, and the state budget has increased, not decreased. Now they want to continue with this farce.

We are not the problem, governor.

Kay Sato
Wailuku