Canadian smoke

Re “Wildfires will worsen until US stops ignoring the climate crisis” (Other Views, Aug. 10): Los Angeles Times columnist Felix Horne addresses recent statements made by Michigan lawmakers and President Donald Trump concerning the Canadian wildfires and the resulting smoke that has been moving across the United States. In his column, Horne focuses his ire at the “audacity” of congressional members speaking out to encourage Canada to look at its forest management policy. He would prefer to focus on U.S. energy policies and attempt to put the responsibility for these wildfires on the Trump administration.

While the U.S. is the world’s second largest emitter of greenhouse gases, accounting for 12% of global emissions, China represents 30%. Yet Horne does not address China in his missive. Nor does Horne address the inconvenient truth that Canada itself is one of the highest per capita carbon emitters in the world.

Canada’s own report to the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change highlights its oil sands and natural gas extraction as accounting for 30% of its emissions. These are not very green sources of energy. Perhaps, Horne, as a Canadian, could save his angry letter to the American citizens and use his efforts to address emissions or forest management practices in his own country.

Brian Shields, Virginia Beach

Iran war

I am by no means a military strategist but I do not believe the United States can force Iran to give up its hold on the Strait of Hormuz with more economic pressure. So far we have pretty much bombed Iran’s military out of existence and shut off most of its oil revenue and still it fights on. Iran is fighting a religious war against the “great Satan” and we totally underestimated its pain tolerance. The country is totally controlled by its military forces so it is oblivious to the suffering of the masses.

The current situation with the U.S. blockade of the strait could go on for a very long time, costing the U.S. taxpayer billions more. This latest campaign in Iran started in February and has not moved the needle. I think Iran is now more emboldened than ever. Personally, I think it’s time for the U.S. to turn things over to the Persian Gulf countries. It is, after all, their neighborhood and their oil being fought over.

Herb Tatem, Chesapeake

Dr. Fauci

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul’s obsession with attacking Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is an honorable man and was a voice of reason during the COVID-19 pandemic, is a good example of the shameful state of affairs in Congress. Members of Congress love to conduct hearings where they can ponder, pontificate, postulate, pretend and promulgate, and not have to do much or make decisions.

Maybe Paul and other members of Congress should start worrying about our crushing national debt, looming crisis in Social Security and Medicare, and federal agencies running out of money. Oh, wait: They would actually have to face difficult problems and make difficult decisions. It is much easier to rant and rave against someone who probably saved hundreds of thousands of lives.

John Demosthenes, Virginia Beach

Vote for Kiggans

I don’t know if anyone has been paying attention to former U.S. Rep. Elaine Luria’s commercials lately, but she claims to want to fight against corruption in Washington. Yet, she is a Democrat and, the last time I checked, it is the Democrats who are corrupt. Vote for Navy veteran U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans in November.

Mike Niehaus, Portsmouth