In a February interview, President Bush told the American people, “I did my duty.” Nevertheless, available evidence shows that Bush failed to fulfill his duty, including disobeying a direct order to take a physical and failing to show up for required service.
Questioning Bush’s record is not just partisan political squabbling as to which of the presidential candidates has the better military record (although Kerry wins that contest by any measure). President Bush continues to send American men and women into harm’s way. His justifications for invading Iraq are ever shifting. His belligerent America-goes-it-alone-attitude damages our alliances with other nations and makes us more vulnerable to our enemies, increasing the risk of more war.
This president (as well as his vice president) who never fought in a war, who apparently dodged even his domestic military service, seems good at getting our nation into war, but incapable of establishing secure peace.
Is this a risk we are willing to take for another four years? An improving economy (if it even is improving) does not benefit a young person whose life is cut short on a battlefield nor does it benefit any of us, young and old alike, who will pay throughout our lifetimes the cost of military misadventures in dollars, in increased insecurity and potential loss of those we love by one whose own service is questionable.
The Republican National Convention masquerade has concluded. It’s now time for Bush to come clean to the American people.
David Mahoney, Minot
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