As a retired military combat veteran and registered Independent voter with young relatives serving in Iraq, I try to follow the Bush administration reasoning.

So far, from their own statements, I see they have claimed Hans Blix was ineffective because he wanted more time for inspections and had doubts about the existence of weapons of mass destruction.

Then France, although willing to help against Osama bin Laden and the Taliban, wanted more time for inspections, so the “Old Europe” ally was a target for official ridicule.

Now David Kay, according to GOP Rep. Weldon, is merely an aide to the general in charge of the WMD search and thus of lessor importance now that he disagrees with the GOP line.

Even though there are no weapons of mass destruction, members of the administration still say we are safer now that Saddam Hussein is gone. Maybe the weapons were moved to Syria, they say. That makes us safer?

I don’t see how giving tax cuts to the wealthiest citizens, making it easier to move jobs off shore to avoid taxes and wages, allowing illegal aliens amnesty, and increasing spending in the budget while not allowing for Iraq, Afghanistan and Medicare costs is creating a strong economy.

I guess the struggling families in Maine are columnist Rich Lowry’s non-poor. Take $17,000 a year, add food stamps and that equals well-off Mainers.

Has Mr. Lowry ever had a real job? Maybe a course in “fuzzy math” will help.

Michael Shain, Jay