The Aug. 12 Sun Journal included a front-page article titled “Bush: No early pullout of troops.” Prompting the story was war protester Cindy Sheehan and others expressing concern about safety of our troops in Iraq and wanting them brought home. She, along with over 1,800 other deprived mothers, has lost her son in this imperialistically styled invasion.

In response to the pressure by the well-intentioned group, some of Bush’s comments were: “I also have heard the voices of those saying Pull out now’ and I’ve thought about their cry and their sincere desire to reduce the loss of life by pulling our troops out; and I sympathize with Mrs. Sheehan.”

Thank goodness we have a president – and for two terms nonetheless – with capabilities of hearing, thinking and feeling. When he utters such words, you get the impression he, alone, has ownership to what they imply. Can you imagine the state of affairs domestically and oversees if he was deficient in these areas?

Bush has grown on the job. You want proof?

In early 2003, leading up to our virtual unilateral attack on Iraq, he certainly could not have yet possessed or developed the faculties of hearing, thinking and feeling. If he had, our young fighting Americans and most of the Iraqi citizens would not be embroiled in this tragic, preventable military fiasco.

Ultimately, Bush’s legacy, while not important right now, will amount to nothing more than this: He unintentionally taught us the usually complimentary word “steadfast” now has a chilling, negative connotation.

Norm Gellatly, Auburn

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