Call up troops ready to protect U.S. Capitol

Washington continues to debate to how to secure the Capitol without ugly fences and barbed wire.

I was in an infantry battalion of the 101st Airborne Division. On a rotating basis with other battalions, we were part of a ready-reaction force, meaning we could not leave the battalion area and were to have our gear ready so that within an hour we could be at the airfield ready to go anywhere we were needed. The rotation lasted two to three days per battalion.

We should establish a similar process to station troops near the Capitol. There are many military installations nearby that could be adapted to this purpose. If necessary, the number of troops could be upped to a brigade-sized force of 3,000 to 4,000 troops.

This plan would require intense surveillance at the Capitol and nationwide monitoring by intelligence agencies. If intelligence gets credible reports of domestic terrorist activity, then the ready-reaction force can be deployed.

Knowing they would be met by this proposed level of force, the groups that stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 should be loath to confront a serious military deterrent.

– John Falcone,

Palmetto Bay

FIRE THS BIGOT

Re the March 5 story “County employee wrote slur-laden tirade against transgender people:” This bigot makes $70,000 a year while working for the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners. My taxes pay for this horrible individual’s salary.

I am not sure why he hasn’t been fired yet.

I am the proud greataunt of a beautiful 11-year old transgender niece. She is brave, proud and sure of herself.

My heart breaks when hateful individuals like John Labriola dedicate time to attack other human beings deserving of the same rights and privileges he has.

I am scared for my niece and other transgender people when a county employee feels comfortable spewing such venom. It is already difficult enough for the transgender community to survive the violent attacks they confront. Sadly, some don’t survive.

The County Commission should terminate this hateful person.

– Monica Harvey,

Miami Shores

VOTING INTEGRITY

Re the March 5 letter “Right to vote:” The most consequential thing citizens do is vote, because, ultimately, it determines whether we enjoy optimum levels of security, safety and quality of life.

I and other members of the military sacrificed years of family separation; dangers and hardships of war; and placed our lives at risk defending the right, obligation, and freedom to vote. Millions made the ultimate sacrifice. Our sacrifices leave no legitimate excuse for citizens not to sacrifice one day every two years to vote in person.

These sacrifices also trump ludicrous claims that requiring voter ID and in-person voting equates to suppressing and disenfranchising voters.

Absentee and mail-in votes should only be those requested because of the inability to vote in person. Disabled citizens who can go or have someone take them to vote should make that sacrifice.

Claiming widespread fraud does not exist implies it’s negligible and therefore not concerning. Any fraud is unacceptable. – Ozell Williams,

Lake City

ERASING BALLOTS

Re the March 5 story “‘Tallahassee politics.’ GOP bill would erase 400,000 mail-ballot requests in Dade:” It is difficult to understand why Florida’s Legislature finds it necessary to cancel all the mail-in ballot requests at this time and make everyone reapply.

The most recent election was a perfect example of how an election should be run, with accuracy and speed, no matter whether your candidate won or lost.

Jose Javier Rodriguez disastrously lost his race for the state Senate by only 21 votes. This was counted and Rodriguez accepted the loss.

An old expression fits the only solution — If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

– Bill Silver, Coral Gables

SHORT AND SWEET

Re the March 5 editorial cartoon by Kevin Siers, “Horton Hatches a

Plot:” The cartoonist missed an opportunity for alliteration.

The title should have been, “Horton Hatches a Hoax.” The cartoon, otherwise, is perfect!

– Paula Mandell, Kendall

TOSS THESE BEANS

After listening to Goya Foods CEO Robert Unanue’s speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference last weekend, in which he said that Donald Trump was either the best, or one of the best, presidents we have ever had, I didn’t know whether to laugh or regurgitate.

Trump used daughter Ivanka to promote Goya products while she was working in the White House. This was totally unethical.

The next time I add beans to my grocery list, it will be any brand but Goya.

– Winnifred Dolde,

Palmetto Bay

PRESIDENT BIDEN UNFAIRLY BESMIRCHES THE NEANDERTHALS, WHO WERE IN THE BUSINESS OF INVENTING TOOLS FOR SURVIVAL, NOT REJECTING THEM. Letter, New York Times, on the president, who denounced states that lifted all COVID restrictions, calling it ‘Neanderthal thinking.’