Napalm Letter

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Letter to the Editor from the Houston Chronicle
Wednesday, July 22, 1998

NAPALM REPORTING OFF BASE
John B. Holmes Jr., district attorney, Harris County.

I am concerned by the lack of balance and objectivity in the media
reporting of the shipment of napalm from San Diego to the Houston area.

The extent of coverage at both the local and national level is far out
of balance with the significance, and there are other events much more
deserving of coverage.

Seldom is the public given a description of what napalm really is and
what the real hazards are. The media play on people's worst fears,
supporting an image of a bomb with detonator.

Napalm is actually a gasoline with a polymer dissolved in it to give it
thicker viscosity.

It is based on a flammable hydrocarbon and, therefore, must be handled
and transported with care to avoid sparks and other sources of
ignition, but it is no more dangerous than gasoline itself.

Daily, we can see gasoline tankers unloading their cargo at local gas
stations without TV cameras or reporters present.

The public seems to understand this is a common and necessary event that
can be managed safely by the companies making, selling and
transporting gasoline. Napalm is no different.

Let the military and the companies handling the transfer carry out the

work of disposing of the napalm and let the media turn their attention
to more significant issues.

Copyright: Houston Chronicle