FOLKS must ask the question: why does the President insist on “staying the course” in Iraq? Is it because he really wants to see a stable, democratic and prosperous Iraq take shape as he says he does? Perhaps.
But how could someone who has shown scant interest in Americans well-being (Katrina comes to mind) be so enamored with the well-being of Iraqis, who live half way around the world?
Since Pres. Bush is tied to the religious right who believe that Christ’s return is imminent and furthermore that God is mad and wants to “cleanse” the earth before the Second Coming, is it far-fetched to believe that GW Bush is doing God’s will? To mean that he, Bush, is “enabling” Muslims to fight each other and kill each other since they do not have the correct faith?
So instead of Christians killing Muslims and vice-versa, like during the days of the Crusade, why not let Muslims have their own civil war, worldwide, is the premise, I believe.
You would like to think of the best of people, not the worst, but wars are started by individuals who cater to the worst, not the best. Nobody will give Osama the benefit of the doubt, right? And why should they? He took out the WTC Towers and with about 3,000 Americans (which included foreigners and illegal immigrants).
Similarly, why should people continue to give the president the benefit of the doubt? And they haven’t as evidenced by the latest poll numbers. This despite the unprecedented secrecy that has come to define the Bush presidency. I shudder to think if everything was declassified from January 2001 to present what would be the reaction of the electorate.

MATT PHILIPS
Mangilao, Guam.