Relaxed travel rules need to be more specific on liquids, containers

Re: “TSA relaxes liquid ban for air travelers,” Sept. 26

In this article, we are told that “… travel-sized liquids under three ounces can be carried onto the plane by a passenger …” There are three problems with this statement. The first is that the word “can” is probably incorrect. I think it should be “may.”

Secondly, the sentence implies that the three-ounce figure is a unit of volume, not a unit of weight. A fluid ounce of water weighs about an ounce under normal conditions, but not every liquid is as dense as water and most pastes, e.g. toothpaste, are lighter than water but sold in sizes by weight.

The third problem is that the sentence doesn’t say what the rules are for pastes; the implication is that the three-ounce rule applies, but it is not stated explicitly. Thus, as a result of your article, we geeky types are deeply confused as to what the rules actually are.

Martin Weiss
Potomac

Clinton administration must bear some blame

Re: “Clinton protected country’s security better than Bush,” From Readers, Sept. 26

The blame for not dealing effectively with growing terrorism can be spread among politicians on both sides. However, believing that former President Bill Clinton was a warrior who failed because he was thwarted by all who supposedly served him is fantasy. He was the president, and whatever the failures of his bureaucrats, they were his failures, too.

Much to contradict Clinton’s recent diatribe can be found in Richard Clarke’s book. Michael Scheuer, an opponent of the Iraq war and no friend of President Bush, headed the bin Laden unit at the CIA from 1996 to 1999. He states that beginning in 1993, Osama bin Laden clearly laid out a philosophy that would lead to protracted warfare. Regarding bin Laden’s capture, he said, “The Bush administration had one chance that they botched, and the Clinton administration had eight to 10 chances that they refused to try.”

We should begin to understand that this is a national problem. We are not targets because we are Republicans or Democrats, but because we are Americans.

Anne Allen
Washington

Washington should not contract meter collection

Re: “Schwartz questions failure of city, contractor to meet meter contract,” Sept. 26

This is one of the dumbest things that I have ever experienced — and the City Council has given D.C. residents many costly, embarrassing and deceitful experiences. Churches do not contract out the collection of their Sunday donations.

Having Council Member Carol Schwartz grilling the transportation official responsible for oversight of the city’s parking meter contract proves — and guarantees — nothing. There will be scheming from the top and Schwartz, the contractor, and the D.C. official should have their last paychecks and pink slips handled by a handheld machine.

First law on the books next year should be D.C. Law 2007-1: “Financial and hard money matters will not be contracted out.” And what U.S. House of Representative’s constituent has this lovely $24 million contract?

Calvin H. Gurley
Washington

Paper ballots are indeed the only safe option for election

Re: “Take your pick: Absentee ballots or purple thumbs?” Editorial, Sept. 26

This editorial suggests that Maryland go to absentee ballots for the November election because of problems and suspected vulnerabilities with the electronic Diebold voting machines. A better solution is simply to increase the print order for absentee ballots so that these paper ballots can be available to every Maryland voter.

Paper ballots may require additional time in retraining election judges, but since this is a simpler technology, retraining would be minimal. My guess is that many of the election judges who have struggled with machines would be relieved to have an all-paper ballot election.

As a voter, I feel more confident that my vote will be counted if I can vote on paper for the general election. For this reason, I voted absentee in the primary. There is no reason the same paper ballots used in absentee voting cannot be produced in sufficient quantity to allow people to use them at the polls.

We must go to paper ballots to have a secure and reliable election in November.

Deborah A. Vollmer
Chevy Chase