European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 14, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 16 stars and stripes saturday april 14 2007 Thomas e Kirsch publisher Richard Braun general manager Europe it col Stephen Oconnor commander news and editorial Robb g8indstaff Doug Dawson executive editor managing editor Europe Sam Arar min Europe Bureau chief Joseph Giordono Mideast Bureau chief Mami Mentse assistant Bureau chief Washington do assistant managing editors Mary Bender news Sean Moores sports Brian Bowers features Christopher six Patrick Dickson news editor Jos or Orzelski web editor addresses us Mai unit 29480 Apo a 09211 International mail Postrach 1330 64345 Griesheim Germany fax Dan 3498416 Civ 0 email news letters Central office 529 14th Street new suite 350 Washington do 200451301 phone Dan 3127630900 or Civ f 1 202 7610900 fax 202 7610890 editorial director 529 14th St new suite 350 Washington do 200451301 phone Dan 3127630945 or Civ 202 7610945 How to Call us editor Dan 3498264 Civ 0 6155601264 letters Dan 3498237 Civ 0 sports Dan 3498225 Civ 0 circulation Dan 3498437 Civ 0 advertising Dan Civ 0 news bureaus Germany country code barn erg Mark so chair 279th bib unit 27535 Box 23541 Apo a 091397535 the Dan 4697957 Tel Civ 0 or fax Dan 4698007 or Civ 0 email Baur Holder John Vandiver 222nd bib Apo a 09034 Tel Dan 4896585 or Civ 0 email Darmstadt Kevin Dougherty Geoff Ziezulewicz and Matt Millham unit 29480 Apo a 09211 Tel Dan 3498406 3498290 and 3498326 or Civ 0 6155601405 0 6155601290 and 0 6155601326 email Grafe Wohr Seth Robson Grafe Wohr training area building 531 room 115 Tel Dan 4756087 Tel Civ 09641836087 email Nancy Montgomery room 117 Rome str 10469115 Heidelberg Tel Dan 3707010 or Civ 0 fax Civ 0 email Scott Schonauer and Steve Mraz Apo a 092273717 Tel Dan 4896585 Tel Civ 0 or 0 fax Civ 0 6313709219 email Stuttgart Charlie Coon car 423 Box 465 Apo a 091070465 Tel Dan 4212088 Tel Civ 07117292088 email Wurzburg Tel Dan 3498237 or Civ 49 0 6155601237 email Italy Kent Harris Tel Dan 314 6327652 or Civ 39 0434 30 7652 second line Dan 314 6324222 or Civ 39 0434304222 Ernail Naples Sandra Jontz pc 817 Box 56 Fpo a 09622 Tel Dan 6265157 and 6265158 or Civ 081 5685157 and 5585158 fax Dan 6265150 or Civ 081 5685150 email Middle East Bureau chief Joseph Giordono Linit 29480 Box 77 Apo a 09211 Tel Dan commercial email reporters Monte Morin Dan 3143498220 email Zeke Minaya Dan 3143498220 cell email spa Rota pc 819 Box 1 Fpo a 09645 Tel Dan 3498237 or Civ United kingdom Raf Mildenhall Ben Murray Bryan Mitchell and Sean Kimmons building 464 dec Sauk Raf Mildenhall Apo a 09459 Tel Dan 2384868 2386082 and 2386083 or Civ 0 0 and 0 fax Civ 0 email Washington do Bureau editor Patrick Dickson 529 14th Street new suite 350 Washington do 200451301 Tel 202 7610859 email Lisa Burgess Tel Civ 703 6921875 Jeff Schogol Tel Civ 703 6921926 and Leo Shane Tel Civ 202 7611183 529 14th Street new suite 350 Washington do 200451301 fax Civ 202 7610890 email printed in Germany by Hurr yet As  Deir Tschand printed in Italy by de Trice Tel Estampa stars and stripes uses 017252 is published daily except Christmas and new years for 50 cents Dairy and sunday by the stars and stripes Central office 52914th slow suite 350 Washington do 200451301 periodicals postage paid at Washington do postmaster Send address changes to european stars and stripes unit 29480 Apo a 09211 ombudsman David Mazzarella the stars and stripes ombudsman protects the free flow of news and information reporting any attempts by the military or other authorities to undermine the newspapers Independence the ombudsman also responds to concerns and questions from readers and monitors coverage for fairness accuracy timeliness and balance the ombudsman welcomes comments from readers and can be contacted by email at or by phone at 2027610945 european and Pacific stars and stripes 2007 stars and stripes web site  letters to the editor contractors serve proudly the writer of contractors on Money Trail letter april 5 asserts that be cause contractors make too much Money they should not get any recognition when they lose their me in Iraq we Are All americans we love our coun try and we proudly serve where we Are needed without sounding trite we Are All free to follow life Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness this Type of service is not what we had in mind when we started out on our Pur suit of happiness but we Are free to choose the Road that leads us to financial Security that Means everyone follows the Money Trail when the Opportunity be comes available we did when we joined the military our recruiters told us of the hefty enlistment bonuses College Money health services and the practical Job experience no one ordered you and me to join the military so what is the difference i dont see a difference in working As a contractor my Recruiter promised me Good pay Good benefits and told me the risks involved my first stint i came As a Soldier now in a contractor on both occasions i came on my own free will How naive of the letter writer to think that we Are not soldiers airmen sailors marines there Are Many veterans of every Branch contractors will continue to serve As we always have in the most honorable and dignified manner possible 1 respect and Salute our soldiers and their coalition for their service to our nation in the great cause of Freedom Marco Horsewood Balad Iraq dont create a vacuum in Iraq i am a registered Democrat and stationed in Iraq i have not been an avid sup Porter of the president and at the begin Ning of the War i was not really sure at tacking Iraq was a Good idea since we Are now Here it does not matter what our reasoning was for attacking leaving now or in september 2008 As the democrats have suggested would create More problems Tell us what you think stars and stripes welcomes your comments on editorials and columns that Are published in the newspaper arid values letters on topics of import Tance in the lives of our letters must be signed and must include the writers address or base and Telephone number please limit All letters to 300 words we Reserve the right to edit tetters for length taste and clarity Send your letters to us mail stars and stripes unit 29480 Apo a q9211 International mail stars and stripes Postrach 1330 64345 Griesheim via fax country code 0 Dan 3498395 i understand that democrats Are anxious to flex their political muscle since they control both houses of Congress and Are attempting to Appeal to a very Large Antiwar sentiment what i dont under stand is How anyone can think this is ratio Nal to paint a target on the Back of the iraqi government Many politicians both democratic and Republican have been Here to see the landscape for themselves Al Aida planned the two attacks on the world Trade Center for several years i think it is perfectly capable of planning a full scale invasion with 18 months to plan it if the military is taken out it will create a vacuum that will soon be occupied by air Ala Darun government or a puppet government run by Iran the president is have tested and will continue to test the resolve of the people with Large scale attacks it should sicken any politician As a Parent or grandparent that insurgents used two Chil Dren to get past checkpoint Only to blow the car up with the children still i know it sickens me As a father does anyone believe any of that will Stop if we leave How Many people in the us will die if Iraq becomes a pipeline for doonesbury terrorists All of the military look Forward to coming Home but not before the iraqi government is stable tech sgt Michael Phillips Sather air base Iraq extend All soldiers individual ready Reserve soldiers should get no easy Way out of multiple deployments even if they have fulfilled their original contract although All soldiers Are expected to hold up their end of an initial contract the Federal government does not Congress should pass the ultimate backdoor draft policy extending troops at least five years beyond their contract soldiers not serving More than at least one year or longer of deployment past the original contract they volunteered for has to end National guard promotion procedures also need to be reevaluated it is my Opin Ion that some of tomorrows leaders of the National Are being promoted prematurely with Little to no regard to leadership abilities guard and Reserve units make up a Little less than half of All soldiers serving in Iraq and slots have to be filled and promotions made quotas have to be met a War of this magnitude should rely on Quantity not Quality this is where Many newly promoted e5s find a great loophole physical fitness tests Are not required while in a combat zone or 90 Days pos deployment Warrior leaders course is conveniently scheduled to take place during the last few weeks of these soldiers make then promotion without having to take a off Why Only a 90day window this win Dow should be Large enough to squeeze All of the National guard leaders of tomorrow through at one time Money has to be saved in this Multi front War on terror and when it comes Down to Beans and bullets sometimes having More Beans for soldiers who cant pass a it test should take precedence the bullets will Only slow Down their already failing run time pc Walter Simpson Kabul Afghanistan by Garry Trudeau t i the vote still 5kom that coh doties in violation of therso ution Mape three fir5t that push the War a Fol Iraq you communicate prickly City by Scott Stantis to wac Gbo undo