We’re excited to welcome you to the Web site of the Public Insight Network, where we highlight a variety of community perspectives on pressing issues in the St. Louis region. All stories are informed by sources in our Network through their responses to questionnaires related to various topics. Responses through the Network have far-reaching effects, informing stories and projects that appear on this site, on Channel 9 and in the St. Louis Beacon.
As President Barack Obama prepares to announce the official end of U.S. combat in Iraq, several St. Louis area residents expressed concerns about the cost, in both lives and dollars, of the effort to bring democracy to that Middle East country.
According to Globalsecurity.org, a public policy organization, more than 4,000 American service members have died and more than 30,000 were wounded as a result of the Iraq war. The tally of Iraqi casualties ranges from 95,000 to more than 100,000, according to the U.K.-based Iraq Body Count project.
After Obama declares the end of the U.S. combat mission, about 50,000 American troops will remain in Iraq as advisers and to assist the Iraqi authorities with counterterrorism activities. Those Americans are expected to leave the country by the end of 2011.
Here is what several St. Louisans, contacted through the Beacon’s Public Insight Network, are saying about the situation.
Peggy Kruse, of Florissant, retired Defense Department contract auditor: “I’m glad it’s coming to an end. But then, it’s not really over, is it? The whole thing has been frustrating. There’s a lot of bad people doing bad things in a lot of places. The United States can’t solve all the world’s problems.
“I don’t see that anything was gained. I know we were keeping Saddam Hussein contained, but for everything that was lost — the antiquities, the lives — I just don’t know. It sounds like it could be over, but we still find reasons to hang around. We never let go of anything. Hopefully it will be peaceful for everybody. For the people there to have normal lives would be wonderful.”
Joe Pritchard, of Fenton, musician and Army Vietnam veteran: “I think it’s a good thing,” that the U.S. is ending its combat role. “It’s all terribly complex. There were no easy answers for President Obama. He’s going to catch it from both sides, no matter what he does.
The word of the day is safety — what does it take to keep our families safe? The conversation took a surprising turn from established citizen to new American and I was enlightened by what I heard.
As I listened I learned that safety is not so simple when you’re an immigrant – for me I would quickly dial 9-1-1 or holler for the police. But it is more complicated when you don’t speak English and don’t understand the rules and customs of the United States. Immigrants also bring a lot of fear with them as they leave behind the sounds of war plus everything else that is familiar. They often don’t know whom to trust for help.
Listen in on these conversations: Public Insight sources, Rodney a block captain in South City and Lisa a St. Louis educator, plus Dwan Speed the police officer. You might be surprised at what you hear and next time maybe you can “reach out and help someone”.
Given that the St. Louis area has the highest number of bicycle-related accidents in Missouri and that St. Charles County is considering banning bicycles on certain highways, how can St. Louis be touted as a great destination for cyclists?
“Cyclists from other cities come here and can’t believe how much nicer motorists are than those in other cities,” said Patty Vinyard, executive director of the St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation .
That’s despite the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s crash map . It shows that the St. Louis area — defined as St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles — accounts for 102 of the state’s 236 reported accidents involving cyclists in 2010.
The high number of reported accidents is actually a testament to the area’s good cyclist education and support system, Vinyard said. According to Vinyard, more accidents are reported in St. Louis because advocacy groups such as her regional bicycle federation and the state-wide Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation encourage documenting accidents. Both organizations promote safe and legal cycling.
The St. Louis Beacon online publication and KETC/Channel 9 invite you to share your knowledge, observations and expertise as a participant in the Public Insight Network (PIN).
We need the insights of people in our region to help inform our work as we address issues of concern and tell the stories of our community.
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We’re excited to welcome you to the Web site of the Public Insight Network, where we highlight a variety of community perspectives on pressing issues in the St. Louis region. All stories are informed by sources in our Network through their responses to questionnaires related to various topics. Responses through the Network have far-reaching effects, informing stories and projects that appear on this site, on Channel 9 and in the St. Louis Beacon.
Peggy Kruse, of Florissant, retired Defense Department contract auditor: “I’m glad it’s coming to an end. But then, it’s not really over, is it? The whole thing has been frustrating. There’s a lot of bad people doing bad things in a lot of places. The United States can’t solve all the world’s problems.
