Letter: Administration has told big lies consistently

Monday, May 10, 2004 | 8:57 a.m.

I loved your May 5 editorial headlined, "Shine light on tactics for interrogation." The only criticism I have is that it was not strong enough. This is the most deceitful administration since Nixon's. A pattern has begun to emerge. It is easy to discern:

First, we attack anyone who criticizes our war policies as unpatriotic. This will shut them up and if not, it will certainly chill their desire to criticize. We will stonewall all inquiries into our malfeasance. If it's 9-11, we will oppose the establishment of a commission. And, if an inquiry becomes inevitable, we will embrace the idea as our own. And when blame is headed our way we will deny culpability by claiming ignorance.

Compare that with "prisonergate." First, we have to claim ignorance even though a report was available in February. This shouldn't be too hard because everyone knows that Bush doesn't read. Then we argue that it is a rogue few who have embarrassed us all and deny systemic problems. Then act surprised to learn of the unseemly side of our current military, but welcome the exposure so that Bush can embrace the idea of a transparent inquiry. Then we can stonewall the inquiry.

And don't forget the outing of a CIA operative. That too has has been stonewalled. Then there's the attack on John Kerry for revealing the truth about the Vietnam War to our Congress in 1971. Seems to me John Kerry should have been listened to 30 years ago. Better yet -- let's start listening to him now.

LANCE T. WEIL