TO THE EDITOR: Cincinnati becomes the stopping point this week for continued negotiations on a Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) between the United States, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Don't be surprised if you've never heard of it. The official negotiating positions of the United States government in CAFTA are not being released, and all CAFTA negotiations are being held behind closed doors.

Don't bother contacting your elected representatives either. All negotiations are carried out by the unelected U.S. Trade Representative Office with limited congressional oversight. Labor and environmental groups have also been shut out of the process, with the USTR preferring input from the Business Roundtable.

Our trade representatives choose to negotiate in private because they know how controversial their policies are. Like NAFTA and the FTAA, we can expect to see efforts in CAFTA to roll back our environmental and labor laws and to privatize health care and education in Central America.

While a democratically negotiated trade agreement might benefit everyone, the U.S. and Central American governments choose to shut the public out - instead negotiating on behalf of the wealthy elite in their countries. Let's call on our governments to open the CAFTA negotiations and all trade negotiations to public scrutiny.

John Meinken, Clifton

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Soldier grateful for citizens' thank-you

On the morning of Feb. 23, around 6:15 a.m., I was preparing to leave for my drill. It was snowing considerably, and the road conditions left much to be desired, yet a man stopped his car, got out and asked if I was in the military.

"Yes," I said.

He then asked if he could shake my hand, and thanked me for my service. Not four minutes later another man walking by also expressed his thanks. These two independent acts really made my day.

I would like to express my thanks to these two individuals who, despite a growing number of opposition, openly showed their support for the men and women that defend our great country.

Eric Wagner, Winton Place, Naval Reservist, QMI USNR

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Dumped, Sarah and Charlie should date

I realize the past few days have been very difficult and stressful for all Americans. First, "Joe Millionaire" Evan picks Zora over Sarah. "Bachelorette" Trista takes underdog Ryan over favorite Charlie. Aaron dumps Helena from the "Bachelor." Michael Jackson tells his side of story with his cameras. I wish Sarah and Charlie could hook up.

Will someone tell me again why I need duct tape?

Steve Koesterman, Montgomery

Taxes support those who won't work

Are President Bush and Gov. Taft on the same page? I think not. Bush pushes for tax cuts and Taft pushes for higher taxes. Recently, I went to the unemployment office to see how easy it is to get Ohio taxpayers to support me. It was not hard at all. In fact, I can make enough to quit my job and stay home.

Thousands of people abuse our welfare program every year, and who stops them? No one. How much money could Ohio save by making lazy people work? The government says we have no jobs; however, when I open the classifieds, I see hundreds of job openings every week.

I think Taft needs to cut where it counts. I'm tired of paying for lazy people, and I'm tired of paying taxes, only to watch it be poorly spent by the state of Ohio. Where are our tax dollars really going?

Scott Baker, Hillsboro

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Iraq war compromises trade with France

When they aren't assaulting defenseless police horses, peace protesters claim the debate about a war against Saddam is "really about oil." They're partly right; it is about oil - French oil, but it's also about German trade and weaponry.

In an effort to buy allies against the United States and military action, Saddam awarded one of France's largest oil firms a contract to develop oil fields containing 25 percent of Iraq's petroleum reserves. It's estimated that France maintains more than $58 billion in oil agreements with the butcher of Baghdad. The Russians also have inked deals for billions of dollars in Iraqi oil.

German trade with Iraq exceeds $350 million annually, with another $1 billion exchanged through third parties. Further, the former head of Saddam's nuclear weapons program called Germany "the hub of Iraq's military purchases in the 1980s." It's reasonable to suggest their ties to Saddam's regime compromise the policies of Germany and France.

So the next time a protester from the hate-America left claims the pending conflict with Iraq is about oil, feel free to agree, and then explain whose policies are truly compromised.

Greg Laneve, Mason

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France, Germany have guilty conscience

What's wrong with France and Germany? Maybe it's a guilty conscience. When the 101st Airborne Division digs up Saddam's banned weapons and drags them back for a show-and-tell before the United Nations' Security Council, these countries will be very embarrassed when the components for these weapons are marked "Made in France and/or Germany."

David Edwards, Newport