Letters to the editor Jan. 27

The Russian demonstration

We get news reports and pictures all the time recently of the massive Russian buildup of troops on the Ukraine border. We see them training with heavy weapons like tanks, helicopters and artillery, as though they are preparing for the order to invade their neighbor. In military terms this deception is called a “demonstration”, i.e., keep the enemy focused on a shiny object over here while conducting a secret action elsewhere. And all the while the politician go about constant “emergency” meetings to negotiate something, anything, but mainly just a photo opportunity, that is what politicians do.

The secret action above is to recruit and arm mercenaries and pro-Russians separatists within Ukraine. These mercenaries and separatists will emerge one day, non-uniformed, to start a “revolution.” As the fighting escalates and casualties mount the separatists will call on their fatherland Russia for support and the great army across the border will respond to save their so called citizens from capture and death. Sound familiar? Think Crimea a few years ago. This deception tactic has been used by warring nations for centuries, example; Alexander the Great in 326 BC at the Battle of the Hydaspes River.

The Russians used this tactic to reclaim the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, and all while President Obama huffed and puffed but really did nothing. Now we see President Biden entering into the same scenario. When Biden said in the Jan. 19 press conference that “small incursions” by the Russians into Ukraine might not be considered serious it caused an uproar. The day later Biden clarified that “... any assembled Russian units move across the Ukrainian border that is an invasion.” The key word here is “assembled.” Why did he put that in the statement? Biden did this to purposely ignore separatist (non-uniformed troop) movements such as used previously in Crimea.

Our current commander in chief is falling into the familiar Russian trap and somehow this doesn’t seem surprising given Biden’s grasp of reality. The invasion in Ukraine will start from within, with a separatist uprising, not from an “assembled” army crossing the border.

— Duane Egan, Columbia Falls

Leadership needed

Integrity. Honesty. Trustworthy. All attributes that the County Commissioners should bring to their paid jobs. However, they fail on all accounts.

Consider the individuals that now comprise the filled positions on either the health board or the library board. People appointed by them to fulfill a duty that represents the needs of our community and to be an advocate for the people of this valley. Instead, they place people on these boards that create hysteria fueled by ignorance.

The health board lost several valuable members within a six-month period because of the destructive environment in which they worked. Quoting Tamalee St. James Robinson on her resignation: “While other factors may contribute to the problem (of filling the position of public health officer) the toxic environment being fostered between the commissioners, the Board of Health and the Health Department is exacerbating an issue making it difficult to recruit an incoming health officer.”

In the end they asked Joe Russell to come out of retirement to oversee the position.

The library board has lost two talented library directors, state accreditation with a revenue loss $35,000 annually, and is in jeopardy of being gutted by trustees Adams, Ingram and Roedel who do not possess the leadership skills necessary to understand what a free library means.

The contentious division among board members that are placed in these positions points directly back to the county commissioners’ lack of respect for the work that the boards do. Instead these people are appointed because of conservative religious values, which leaves no room for acceptance of other thought, or political party affiliations.

It’s time to elect commissioners who have the leadership skills that understand they were elected not for their own private pursuits, but for good of the people they serve.

— Nancy Pensa, Somers