Just in time for the summit in Singapore (assuming it isn't canceled, day of), I'd like to go on the record as saying it will achieve nothing.

The Administration is hoping that North Korea will capitulate and relinquish all their nukes and dismantle the program. No way will this happen. The nukes are more than a source of pride, they're an essential source of security for them. They know that Saddam Hussein had no nukes (or any weapons of mass destruction) so it was safe for us to invade them.

The Administration also (foolishly) brought up the example of Moammar Gadhafi. He gave up his nuclear program. Then we aided rebels who overthrew him and killed him in the street. (The country has pretty much been anarchy ever since.) Kim Jong Un is not going to let this happen to him.

So why is Kim going to the summit? He, as his father before him, has a need to feel like a big shot. Several times, the NK government has virtually kidnapped US citizens, but were willing to hand them over a high profile American came to get them. Former Cabinet Secretary Richardson filled the bill. Even Jesse Jackson. Now Kim's going to meet with a US President! For free! Simply put, he's there for a photo op. (Of two guys with ridiculous hairdos.) That's all that will happen.

Kim says he wants to denuclearize the Korean peninsula. We need to understand what that means to them. It doesn't mean he gives up his nukes. It means we leave South Korea. We won't. So the summit will achieve nothing.

Even if they get a deal, remember, the NK government is consciously Stalinist. Stalin's policy was "Promise everything, deliver nothing". So don't be fooled.

Sincerely,

Stephen Van Eck, Rushville, PA

It's the biggest, heaviest, meanest thing afloat. It weighs upwards of 100,000 tons, upended next to the Empire State Building it would be almost as high. And with a price tag of $13 billion, it's easily the most expensive ship to have ever sailed the ocean. The vessel in question is the Gerald R. Ford, the first in a fleet of ten nuclear-powered super-carriers.

The Ford is in effect a floating airfield. Its four-acre flight deck can accommodate a mix of 90 fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. At a flank speed of 35 mph it can race wherever its power or intimidating presence is needed.

The super-carrier travels in a protective cocoon of about a dozen vessels. Surface ships such as guided missile cruisers and destroyers form an outer ring of defense. Below the waves, hunter-killer subs patrol the depths, while above the water there is a 24/7 air umbrella.

Additionally, the Ford is equipped with the most extensive and sophisticated active and passive defenses for defeating low-flying cruise missiles or hostile subs and has hundreds of watertight compartments.

The USN says it's "almost unsinkable," but a $1 million Russian missile could send it and its crew of 2,600 down alongside the RMS Titanic.

So which is it? The most formidable warship ever built or a WWII living fossil, a dinosaur that should have gone extinct 75 years ago?

If we are to believe a former UN weapons inspector and a quasi-official Russian source, the Ford is just a barn-sized bulls-eye for the YU-71 cruise missile.

The YU-71 can be launched from any platform: submarine, large fishing boat, jet, or land-based truck. Its top speed is believed to range between Mach 9 (7,000 mph) and Mach 20 (15,000 mph).

Russia's cruise missile can neutralize a target in three ways: (1) At Mach 9 the kinetic energy generated by an empty warhead upon impact would be equal to a large conventional warhead. (2) Beyond Mach 9 it would duplicate the explosive force of a small nuclear bomb. And (3) The YU-71 can carry ten multi-directional A-bombs.

A Carrier's Worst Nightmare.

The YU-71 can climb to its maximum altitude of 130,000 feet---that's more than 25 miles!---then drop vertically at Mach 20 onto the thinly armored flight deck of a carrier. Whether or not this would sink the ship is a moot point, since the ship would be rendered permanently inoperable.

The USN's defense for the YU-71.

There is none. Nevertheless, the USN is convinced that the cocoon defense system is sufficient to protect an enveloped carrier.

And there is the possibility that the YU-71's capabilities are too overblown to be true. But twelve years ago there was an incident that was also deemed impossible, but occasionally the impossible happens.

A Chinese sub managed to slip through 12 ships in protection formation around the carrier USS Kitty Hawk. When it got to within five miles---that's firing range---it surfaced to the astonishment of the naval battle group. How it managed to penetrate a defense screen that included 13 sonars, at least one sub, and anti-submarine helicopters remains unknown.

Regardless of their vulnerability and cost, more carriers are on order.

Nine more Ford-class carriers are lined-up for production. The total cost will hover around $130 billion. Add cost over-runs, technological upgrades, inflation, and the bottom line could be $150 billion.

So who backs the assembly line construction of these pricey behemoths: (1) the politicians who approve pork barrel legislation for their benefit, (2) the voters whose jobs depend on shipyard work, (3) the USN that supports anything on or under the water.

And (4) Two more parties that give a two thumbs up for a beefed-up carrier fleet---the Russians and the Chinese. They have one flat top each. (Maybe they know something?) The US has 21 with nine more on back-order. The rest of the world has 22.

Sincerely,

Bob Scroggins, New Milford, PA

My name is Karen Ligus. I live in Vandling Borough. I attend the Forest City council meetings because my kids graduated from Forest City Regional and my grandchildren are now attending. Forest City, Vandling, Richmondale and Browndale are all close-knit communities, where everyone knows everyone. My side of the street is Vandling and across the street is Richmondale, Fell Township. Don't blame me for the divide, I didn't put it there.

I was surprised about several things at the Forest City council meeting on June 4, 2018. One council member was either medicated, self-medicating or drunk. (He brought in a thermos, was drinking from it.) He was clearly having difficulty expressing his thoughts and questions. It only got worse as the meeting progressed. It's my opinion that any council member who is visibly under the influence of something should be asked to vacate the meeting.

The public comment section in the beginning of the meeting only addresses agenda items. At the end of the meeting is another public comment section for any other concerns. It was at this time that a woman asked council president Nick Cost why he was smiling while she was talking. She told him that in order to get respect from the people, he has to also give it. He became angry and asked her if she was done? Then told her to " sit down now!!" She very kindly told him she was not done and not ready to sit down yet. This type of aggressive behavior should not happen. Council members are there to represent the people. Isn't the public comment section there for people to put out their ideas, questions or complaints? No one should be laughed at or mocked.

On Friday, June 8, 2018 our Mayor, Tami Rogalski quit, resigned as mayor. Why? Due to one council member saying she was going to punch the mayor in the face when she sees her. When Mayor Rogalski called council president Nick Cost, he laughed about it! It's improper for any council member to threaten another, let alone the mayor! It's also improper for the council president to intimidate and laugh in the mayor's face when she has a complaint against a council member. Mayor Rogalski has walked out of a council meeting in the past, due to the disrespect of two new council members. Council has pushed her out the door. Now what? This is a sad situation for many of us. Tami Rogalski had good intentions for Forest City, a priority being to rid our streets of drug dealers. Depending on who will replace her, we may lose most of our police department. Here's a big "THANK YOU" to those select few in council-you know who you are-you may have just screwed us all!

And to all those fools who want to keep saying I don't live in Forest City, your police department is also mine. Vandling has a police contract with Forest City. So they are my police officers too. Forest City will be in serious trouble if this council doesn't change for the positive real soon.

Council should think hard before appointing a new mayor. Remember, you are all there to represent the people, let's start acting like it.

Sincerely,

Karen Ligus, Vandling PA