from our local paper:
http://www.citizen-times.com/letters.shtml--------------
Veterans against Bush and his reasons for war
Sept. 27, 2004 12:01 a.m.
In World War II I served in the military with three brothers: one brother was in the Marines in the South Pacific; one brother flew 35 bombing missions over Germany; another brother was an artillery observer in the 3rd Infantry Division; and I was in the Navy.
Our oldest brother is deceased, but the three of us who survive oppose Bush, not just because we believe Sen. Kerry would be a better leader, but mainly because we believe that by the clever use of disinformation, the nation was led to believe Iraq was an imminent threat to our own security.
Bush's deception has now cost the lives of more than 1,000 of our troops and of countless thousands of Iraqi lives.
I'm surprised that so many veterans, many of whom have known the horrors of war first hand, would support such a president, and thereby reconcile themselves to the sight of an increasing number of coffins being shipped from Iraq to the United States.
The cost of the war is not worth it because the reasons given for it by the president are not credible.
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One thousand Americans dead and world no safer
Sept. 27, 2004 12:01 a.m.
The haunting realities of President George H.W. Bush's reference to "a thousand points of light" in his 1989 inaugural speech visit us again. This time the "thousand points of light" are the lost lives of (more than) 1,000 of America's finest young men and women. The first of these brave troops died on March 20, 2003. The 1,000th Iraq war death occurred on Sept. 7. These 1,000 lives were lost in a war that happened because of another "thousand points of light," the constellation of bright shining lies of President George W. Bush.
Since "Mission accomplished," May 1, 2003, 883 U.S. troops have died. Since "Bring 'em on!", July 2, 2003, 795 good Americans have died. Dover Air Force Base has received 588 flag-draped coffins from Iraq since Dec. 13, 2003, the day Saddam Hussein was captured and we were told the world is a safer place.
The original reasons justifying this $200 billion war are longgone. As a veteran of 250 air combat missions in Vietnam, I honor the warrior, but not Bush's war. As one who can count the names of many friends on the Vietnam Memorial Wall, I grieve for this regiment of good and brave Americans, lost forever in Iraq.
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Lacking positives, GOP resorts to smear and fear
Sept. 27, 2004 12:01 a.m.
President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney have never run a clean campaign. Take a look back at the 2000 Republican primaries when they smeared Sen. John McCain. Now there is increasing evidence of Bush administration involvement in the swift boat ads. It is just one dirty trick after another. This bunch of scoundrels has finally crossed the line. In a recent ranting, Cheney said the following: "A November win by Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry would put the United States at risk of another devastating terrorist attack." And then he said, "If we make the wrong choice, then the danger is that we'll get hit again - that we'll be hit in a way that will be devastating from the standpoint of the United States." It is obvious that they nothing positive to run on so they have to rely on fear. There only hope is to scare and intimidate the public to "Vote for us or you won't be safe." This bunch has done nothing to find bin Laden since the Iraq war began. Bush should change his campaign slogan to "I'll ride your fears to four more years." This is one person that is not buying their rubbish.
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