Letters

President Bush keeps making promises he cannot keep [Feb. 16]. The deficit has exploded on his watch. His tax cuts have not generated new jobs to replace the millions lost in the past three years. But Bush has called for no sacrifices on the part of Americans. He wants us to go to the moon and then Mars, without new taxes. But many essential services are being cut while the federal budget deficit balloons. The Administration's neocon advisers want to build an American empire without asking citizens to support it with more revenue. The White House plans to achieve it with smoke and mirrors. The President is overdrawn.
BILL MITTLEFEHLDT
Anoka, Minn.

If Bush has a credibility gap, it was manufactured by the Democratic Party. If the U.S. military finds a stash of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in Iraq — and that's still possible — what would the Democrats' line of attack be then? WMD are secondary to what Saddam Hussein did to Iraq. If the Dems want to make an issue about the war, then they deserve what happens to them in the November elections.
DAVID HUTCHINSON
Windsor Locks, Conn.

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I find it ironic and hypocritical that we are conducting investigations into the 9/11 attacks and the intelligence behind Bush's decision to go to war with Iraq, with the apparent aim of indicting the Bush Administration for, on one hand, failing to do something to prevent 9/11 and, on the other, acting against a perceived threat of WMD in Iraq. Americans can't have it both ways. Either we must be willing to undertake pre-emptive actions against governments and groups that are known to be inimical to our nation and might carry out acts of terrorism against us, or we must be willing to accept civilian casualties because we are unwilling to act against terrorists.
DEAN EPPLER
Houston

Bush doesn't have just a credibility gap; it's a credibility chasm bigger than the Grand Canyon. It started when Bush campaigned as a "compassionate conservative," escalated the day he claimed victory in the 2000 presidential election; rocketed off the charts as he took the oath of office and promised to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution; and has continued unabated.
CHRIS FINNIE
Boulder Creek, Calif.

Whether he's talking about the war, his military record or anything else, it's clear that we have a President who has a problem telling the truth.
ALAN L. LIGHT
Iowa City, Iowa

The president's decision to invade Iraq was based on credible intelligence. TIME seems to believe that the U.S. is omniscient and knows our enemies' every move and intention. There are terrorists who wish to destroy America and all freedom-loving people. Bush acted decisively in leading our efforts to go after al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and topple a tyrannical psychopath in Iraq. America is safer today than it was three years ago, but further struggles and sacrifices lie ahead.
BOB JONES
Yardley, Pa.

Questions About Cheney

You asked whether Cheney is an asset or a liability to Bush's chances of re-election [Feb. 16]. The more pertinent question is, Do the people of the U.S. think Cheney would be a good President if something happened to Bush? Would they approve of Cheney, or would there be widespread discontent, much as there would have been if Richard Nixon's Vice President Spiro Agnew had taken up residence in the Oval Office?
STEVEN RANDOLPH
Lakeland, Fla.

In reference to Cheney and his connection with the oil-and-gas behemoth Halliburton, you quoted a presidential adviser who said, "People aren't going to care about Halliburton ... They're going to care about who can protect them." Such arrogance! Washington insiders seem to think that Americans are indifferent to the obscene amounts of money that companies like Halliburton are making in Iraq with no-bid contracts. Of course we are concerned about terrorism, but that doesn't mean we're not frustrated by seeing the Halliburtons of the country make a profit from American taxpayers. Woe to those politicians who continue to underestimate the intelligence and awareness of the 2004 voter. JANE VINSON-KAFURA Lac du Flambeau, Wis.

Service Among the Select

In "An Absence In Alabama" [Feb. 16], you discussed whether Bush skipped a year of service with the Air National Guard during the Vietnam War. Let's assume he is able to demonstrate convincingly that he did attend his required training sessions in Alabama. How does this change that Bush was given special treatment and allowed to join a National Guard unit that was practically guaranteed not to go into combat? Is serving in such a unit the same as honorably serving today in a National Guard unit that is likely to see combat?
DAN S. WARD
Fort Collins, Colo.