THE TRIBUNE'S VIEW
McCaskill on education
By HENRY J. WATERS III, Publisher, Columbia Daily Tribune
Of late, Democrat Claire McCaskill has been running for the U.S. Senate with a message criticizing Republican education policies. She says the federal No Child Left Behind law requires some needed accountability but is too complicated and, above all, is under-funded by some $40 billion-plus.

JOHN DARKOW CARTOON

OPEN COLUMN
New leadership necessary to get out of senseless war
Editor, the Tribune: I am totally against this war and all wars, except for World War II.

OPEN COLUMN
Muslims condemning Israel is far from front-page news
Editor, the Tribune: I am writing in regard to a front-page article on Aug. 12, titled "Area Muslims Condemn Israel’s Actions." Something struck me as being wrong as soon as I read the piece. I re-read to see what was wrong. The piece was well written, the facts appear to be correct and there was an obvious effort to balance the article with the inclusion of comments by Rabbi Yossi Feintuch.

OPEN COLUMN
Mid-Missouri can be proud of its Little League team
Editor, the Tribune: We certainly enjoyed watching your Daniel Boone Little League team at the World Series games on ESPN. The city can be proud of their young men. They showed great sportsmanship and character in their play. Even though they didn’t win Tuesday night, they played their hearts out. The coaches have to be proud also with the intensity that the boys played all of their games. Here’s to next year’s games!

OPEN COLUMN
U.S. policies fuel hate, cost American money and lives
Editor, the Tribune: In a recent world poll, President George W. Bush - not Osama bin Laden - was considered the greater threat to world peace. This is because of his attack on Iraq, killing thousands of innocent people, and his inhumane treatment of prisoners. By furnishing Israel with millions in loans and military equipment, he has turned his war on terror into a war seen by some as a war on Islam. This will increase violence not only in Iraq but in other parts of the world.

New early primaries raise political angst
By JULES WITCOVER
There’s much wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth going on these days among politicians in Iowa and New Hampshire over the Democratic Party’s decision to intrude on their first-in-the-nation monopoly over the presidential primaries in 2008.

Japan’s PM rebuilt country’s foundation
By GEORGE F. WILL
TOKYO - Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s tenure, which ends next month, has been more remarkable than perhaps most Japanese comprehend. The third-longest-serving prime minister since 1945, his five years have echoed aspects of the careers of four Western leaders: Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, Rudy Giuliani and Andrew Jackson.

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