Bush A Coward II

To the Editor:

In his Aug. 3 letter, Mr. William McKechnie takes contributor Michael Gorman to task for his criticism of President Bush, asking, "What qualifies Gorman to call our President a coward?"

In defense of Mr. Gorman, allow me to address that point. Bush is a coward - and the worst kind at that. The kind who has the blood of more than 3,600 dead American soldiers on his hands along with thousands more maimed and crippled for life in a totally unnecessary and endless war that he got us into based on lies and deceptions.

Yet, when we were fighting in Vietnam, Junior made sure that the closest he would ever get to combat was watching it on the six o'clock news. He found himself a nice safe sinecure in the Texas Air National Guard where he was prepared to give his life, if necessary, had the Viet Cong invaded Texas.

And that, Mr. McKechnie, makes him the worst kind of coward - the armchair warrior who has no qualms about sending our soldiers into harm's way for no good reason, but who made damn sure that he never got within 10,000 miles of a hot LZ in the 'Nam.

As for Mr. Gorman's favorable comment about President George Herbert Walker Bush regarding the first Gulf War campaign - he's right on point. Bush's father had the good sense not to try and depose Saddam Hussein - just to eliminate the threat that he posed to Kuwait with his cross-border invasion. That first campaign was a measured response to a specific threat, and once that threat was neutralized, Bush Sr. went no further. He was smart enough to know what would happen if he deposed Saddam by military force - the very same thing that is happening now in Iraq, courtesy of his son.

As for Mr. Gorman's party affiliation - he doesn't have to convince you of anything, Mr. McKechnie - least of all whether he voted for Bill Clinton or not. And what if he did? So what? This is still a free country and Mr. Gorman can join any political party he wants to and vote for any candidate he pleases - the same as you. We're not living in a dictatorship where there's only one approved party that's authorized to govern.

Oh, by the way, Mr. McKechnie - have you seen your President's approval ratings lately? He's down to 30 percent now - and if this war drags on much longer, he'll be looking at a goose egg.

STEVEN I. DANKO, Court Clerk, NYS Supreme Court