The American Spectator

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br> Georgetown, Delaware /p> p> POST-APOLOGY br> Re: Jed Babbin's Damn the Apologies: Full Speed Ahead : /p>

This is an extremely hard letter to write as I am thoroughly predisposed to agree with Mr. Babbin. Indeed, I agree with a significant portion of this column and particularly its thesis of lets get on with the job. Ah well, on with the letter.

First, the time period between when the military authorities (Gen. Sanchez, perhaps) learned that there was a problem and the first courts martial just announced is totally unreasonable and unacceptable. The entire staff of that prison should have been cleaned out and replaced by the end of last year, and I mean to include the so called military intel folks. The idea that a 6 month or more long "investigation" of a problem when there are a veritable plethora of pictures in existence is ridiculous, absolutely absurd.

Second, the idea that Rumsfeld was not FORCED to endure a full briefing on this situation before the end of last year is positive dereliction of duty. Either Gens. Sanchez or Abazaide or Myers need to be told to retire at a reduced rank for their full blown stupidity in keeping Rummy under the impression that it was no big deal, if they in fact did. It is NOT acceptable for Rumsfeld to say that the report just got to him and he hasn't had time to read the 53 pages is totally absurd. It ranks right up there with refusal to admit ANY mistakes or errors in the Iraqi portion of the War on Terror.

Third, to keep the President out of the loop on this, coming up on an election year, is just too stupid for words. At this juncture Bush needs to publicly fire somebody (other than Rumsfeld who he needs), but he hasn't the cojones. It wouldn't be changing the tone in Washington.

Fourth, the whole Fallujah situation is a total snafu. The politicians (starting with Bush) should never have been allowed to snatch stalemate from the jaws of victory. The Marines should have been allowed to win that fight Now the bad guys have, in large numbers, abandoned Fallujah for Bhagdad and other points where they wish to apply pressure. Now more American military folks will be killed and maimed.

Fifth, our military spokesman general in Baghdad went on TV and vowed to kill or capture al-Sadr. Now we obviously have no intention of doing so. So much for convincing the Arabs that we mean what we say.

p>Bush ought to be 10 points up in the polls, given the mistakes and idiocies of the Kerry campaign. Instead he is in a statistical tie. His handling of the Iraq situation has been a disaster starting with his mission accomplished fiasco aboard the aircraft carrier. There is only one reason that I can see to vote for Bush in November, and that is that John Kerry is so unbelievably bad that he simply must not be allowed to get hold of the reins. I had planned to stay home in November, but now I may have to hold my nose and vote for Bush.

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