What the president can and cannot do

To the editor: This is a reply to Lisa VanDenBerg. The president and vice-president in America have very little final decision-making power. Our Constitution limits the war-making decision to the U.S. Congress which is comprised of the House and Senate. Congress also is responsible for raising and supporting armies and to maintain a Navy. This is under Article 1, Section 8. The U.S. House and Senate each have an independent bipartisan intelligence committee responsible for gathering information from which decisions can be made by the House, the Senate and the president. Approvals must be a majority vote from both sides of the aisle in the House and Senate. Although our president is Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces, he, too, is subject to decisions made by Congress. In the case of the war in Iraq, Congress approved the war, the troops to fight it and the funding for it. Anwar in Alaska is one of the largest oil reserves in the world. The U.S. Senate has repeatedly blocked drilling in that region. A second large oil reserve is at our doorstep in the Gulf of Mexico. For the first time this coming May, the American oil industry will be required to use ethanol (a corn derivative) when processing fuels. It is a step toward finding a practical alternative fuel source. This has been encouraged by President Bush and recently approved by Congress. Lisa, please join us in supporting our nation, our president and our troops. Bob Fletcher and Robert Ritzer On behalf of the Officers and Members Nicholas P. Lesando Jr. American Legion Post 214 Warwick