U.S. should identify credible threats

The Sept. 18 Star-Advertiser contained an eye-catching headline, "Shiite militias in Iraq pose challenge to U.S."

It boggles the mind to keep all of the disparate groups operating in Iraq and Syria straight in one’s mind. There is the Syrian dictator, Bashar Assad; then there is ISIS violently opposed to Assad as well as to the Iraq government. There are the Shiite militias operating in Baghdad — the subjects of the headline — ostensibly more powerful than Iraq’s security forces.

One wonders which, if any, of these entities, as well as other smaller groups, are a real threat to the U.S. and in what way.Before we start pounding the war drums again,we should have acceptable answers to these concerns.And, most of all, we must have a clear vision of what the end game looks like.

Ed Sullam
Aina Haina

Treat public, police in the same way

One question reporters, politicians and the public ought to require the police chief and police union to answer: Do police apply equal restraint to not charging the general public involved in domestic abuse incidents such as the one involving the Honolulu Police Department sergeant?

The answer is a resounding no. Those members of the general public who are arrested are immediately dubbed "suspects," and their faces splashed to the news media. No concern is given to guilt, innocence or impact on the individual’s life. Why the double standard?

Richard Garcia
Salinas, Calif.

Kealoha must show policies followed

Police Chief Louis Kealoha’s response to the handling of the domestic abuse case, saying, "If you want me to crumble under public and political pressure, if you want me to move away and compromise the integrity of the department and deviate from our policies, then I am not your chief," is very disappointing.

The police department should have a policy that errs toward the safety of the victim.

This is simple. Was department policy followed or not?If so, fine.But if not, the responding officers compromised the integrity of the department when they deviated from established policies, and the stance that Kealoha has taken further compromises the integrity of the police department.

It is not a matter of crumbling under pressure.An off-duty police officer should not be treated any differently than any other citizen in our community.

Charles Merkel
Kapolei

Respect our home in Haleiwa town

Regarding the article, "Fence fight" (Star-Advertiser, Sept. 18), there were many comments about "rights."

I live in Haleiwa, where I was born and raised. I have seen so many changes and I don’t like how my home is being invaded.

Haleiwa town is where I grew up, and we all respected and looked out for one another. Yes, there were differences but it was with aloha.

My parents were among the pioneers of the Waialua moku and welcomed growth, but with respect for property and people.

My husband and I worked hard for our home and we have invested in this town that we call home.

This is my home. Please respect it!

Marilee"Abe" Lyons
Haleiwa

Carry geothermal to every island

The state should assist Hawaiian Electric Co., or some other competent electric utility provider, to provide the entire state with geothermal electric generation that is less costly and sustainable. The cost to generate heat from the volcano,and the cost of water from the ocean to cool the process, are zero. There are only two cost factors that need to be addressed: the equipment to manufacture the electricity and the cable network to reach all islands.

The equipment should be available from Iceland, which has had geothermal electricity generation for a long time. Environmental concerns are negligible as the volcano is and has been active forever.

The state should float bonds forpurchasing the equipment and purchasing and laying the cable. Onceelectricity is produced, some of the revenue should be directed to paying off the bonds and once the bonds are fully paid for, we the consumers shouldreceive a further reduction in cost.

Norman Tyau
Downtown Honolulu

Enforce current vacation rental laws

"The City Council and mayor must try again to craft rules that license more of the existing short-term rentals and crack down on those that continue to skirt the spirit of the law or operate outright illegally."

This quote from your editorial on short-term rentals is faulty logic ("Vacation rentals both a challenge and opportunity," Star-Advertiser, Our View, Sept. 15).What good is "crafting rules" when the city has demonstrated an inability or unwillingness to enforce rules that have existed for decades?The only things that will result will be ruined neighborhoods and fewer rentals for local people.

The rules were enacted for very important reasons, including providing safe residential neighborhoods where folks could relax and live in peace away from the noise and congestion of resort areas. Just look at the chaos that has already infested Kailua. It will only get worse if the city issues licenses.

Licensing more units isn’t the way to resolve this problem. Enforcing the current law is.

Leigh Prentiss
Kailua