Letter: U.S. loses respect under Bush

Tuesday, April 20, 2004 | 9:19 a.m.

I am outraged by the inaction of the American populace in response to Condoleezza Rice's testimony about the events leading up to the security failure of 9-11.

Dr. Rice placed the blame on the Clinton administration, when it was clearly the Bush administration that had failed miserably.

While on his month-long vacation in Texas, Bush received a memo warning him of an impending terrorist strike in the U.S. He did nothing to act on this warning. In fact, the outgoing Clinton administration had briefed Dr. Rice on the terrorist threats months before, specifically focusing on Osama bin Laden. The Bush administration did nothing to follow up on these threats.

Bush did not support the creation of the Office of Homeland Security, which had been proposed as soon as he took office. He and his cronies stalled the 9-11 investigation, saying that it was in the best interest of America to keep this information confidential. He dragged the U.S. into a war in Iraq, claiming that Saddam Hussein had WMD. Now Iraq is falling into a civil war, which will undoubtedly breed even more hate against the U.S. and more terrorists.

The U.S. is losing support from our foreign allies every day, not only because of the WMD/Iraq lie, but also because Bush went around the United Nations when he declared war.

Things will only get worse if George Bush remains in office.

ELIZABETH GAWEL