The Jan. 3 front-page article “GPS, a pillar of daily life, faces increasing attacks” was a great overview. And the writer was right to note that the Pentagon’s work to improve the system is going to make it only marginally better.
China and Russia both have terrestrial backup systems for their satellite-based positioning, navigation and timing while America does not. This means they can threaten GPS satellites without fear of repercussions. In fact, the U.S. has already experienced GPS blackmail. In November 2021, while massing troops along its border with Ukraine, Russia threatened to cripple GPS if NATO got in the way.
So how do we take the bullseye off the critical infrastructure GPS has become?
In 2004, President George W. Bush mandated the establishment of a backup system. Congress also mandated a backup in the bipartisan National Timing Resilience and Security Act of 2018.
Government studies and advisory group recommendations over the past 20 years have called for pairing a relatively inexpensive terrestrial system with GPS. Making the terrestrial system widely available to the public would deter our adversaries and protect the nation in the event of attack, GPS anomaly or major solar disturbance.
Until the administration empowers a department or agency to protect GPS satellites, signals and users with a backup system, this clear and present danger to national security is only going to increase.
William Shelton, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Dana A. Goward, Alexandria
The writers are former members of the National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Advisory Board. William Shelton was commander of the Air Force Space Command, and Dana A. Goward was director of the Marine Transportation Systems at the U.S. Coast Guard.
Watch for this in Venezuela
The Trump administration successfully executed a most difficult mission in extracting Nicolás Maduro and his wife from his home in Caracas.
While it may be a source of pride that our Delta Force troops and supporting military could accomplish this, there are significant issues with the aftermath of the insertion into Venezuela.
The remaining leaders of the socialist government are still in place and, in fact, are more empowered. Though the interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, is the new government mouthpiece, the background roles of Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello remain the same. This is in contrast with Operation Just Cause in 1989, when President George H.W. Bush sent troops to take out Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega, who had actually declared war on the U.S.
In this effort, Noriega’s key lieutenants were also removed from power and Panama had a clean slate of new leaders who were freely and legitimately elected. Guillermo Endara’s presidency brought new life and freedom to the country and, as such, created long-term foundations for peace and freedom.
Another important analogy is Nicaragua and the 1990 defeat of the Sandinista regime of Daniel Ortega and the election, freely and openly, of Violeta Chamorro. The fact that the old, corrupt regime was completely expunged created the opportunity for a successful transition to democracy.
There is a freely elected Venezuelan right now, waiting in Spain to return. The records show Edmundo González received more than 80 percent of the vote in the 2024 election. The lesson of the regime change in Panama and Nicaragua is that we should not replace one socialist strongman with another.
Francis Rooney, Naples, Florida
The writer, a Republican, is a former congressman from Florida and a former ambassador to the Holy See.
If the United States intends to play a decisive role in Venezuela’s transition, there is one step that would cut through speculation, confusion and rumor more effectively than any statement or sanction: reopening the U.S. embassy in Caracas.
For years, Venezuela has existed in a state of political suspension, where power operates without visibility. Reopening the embassy would send a clear message: Something has changed, and the transition is being managed rather than improvised.
Presence brings accountability. Reopening the embassy would demonstrate to American voters that claiming a central role in shaping Venezuela’s future is not rhetorical positioning but a responsibility the United States is prepared to manage directly, transparently and on the ground.
Reopening the U.S. embassy would not solve Venezuela’s challenges, but it would replace anxiety with structure, a prerequisite for any economic recovery and for the human healing the country urgently needs.
Carlos Santaella, Framingham, Massachusetts
Make gambling less accessible
Regarding the Jan. 4 Sports article “‘This is my last shot’”:
It is fine that organizations exist to help those addicted to sports gambling. However, until we make online betting illegal, there are few things we can do to inhibit gambling addiction.
We now have an environment where gambling addicts have full access to online betting on their cellphones. It would be the same as an alcoholic having an unlimited wine refrigerator at their residence. Gambling is far too accessible.
Howard Pedolsky, Rockville
Post Opinions wants to know: Bob Brody’s Dec. 30 op-ed, “Every family has a history. Here’s how to hand it down.,” encouraged children to interview their parents and grandparents. How has your family preserved its history? What have you discovered? Send us your response, and it might be published as a letter to the editor. wapo.st/family_history
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