This is in response to Christine Cribb’s letter of support for the growlers (Leader, July 24). Reading her letter, one would think that she is talking about noisy truck traffic or other nuisance that must be tolerated for the sake of commerce. I think we have to recognize that the “growlers” are designed and created to kill human beings, as well as to terrify and intimidate. This means that we have to consider some tough questions:

• When is our military force adequate for national defense, and when does it become excessive? This is complicated because of the military-industrial complex. The military is a huge business, involving hundreds of thousands of jobs, with growth as a desired goal, as Ms. Cribb’s letter suggests.

• If this military practice must go forward, why is it happening over populated areas and wilderness areas, impinging on the rights and well-being of the human and wildlife populations? When a growler thunders overhead, in your neighborhood or town or wilderness area, with such force that you feel intimidated, bullied and in danger don’t you wonder if this is really necessary? I understand that there are areas where military maneuvers can be done with minimal social impact.

• About “jets are jobs,” do we really believe that specific jobs must be preserved at any cost? Are there not other industries, current or forming, that can absorb this population without continuing to increase our killing capacity in the world?

I will not argue that national defense is not necessary. But it comes with built-in problems, and all Americans have a stake in managing how it affects our communities and our lives.

Mike Kaill
Port Townsend