I recently moved from Texas to retire in Maine. I thought I had seen all of the neoconservative columnists represented in the newspapers of Texas, but I was mistaken. I read Cal Thomas’ Dec. 7 column, “Iraq Study Group’s report has wrong answers,” and got on the Internet to see exactly who he is, and what qualifications he possesses to criticize an American statesman such as James Baker. All I could find was a bit about Thomas’ history as a “columnist” and author.

After searching the Ambassador Speakers Bureau, Wikipedia and Tribune Media Services Web sites, to name only a few, I am still no better informed. Where did Thomas receive his college degree in international relations or Middle Eastern studies? When and where did he serve the United States as an ambassador, or does he have any public service record for that matter?

Being a “columnist” and author does not give an individual the qualifications to second-guess respected individuals who have spent their adult lives serving this country. Thomas can disagree with them, question their conclusions, but I do not consider him to be an “expert,” especially since the reading public doesn’t know what his academic and public service background and qualifications are. I wonder if Thomas has ever held an overseas assignment from a newspaper, or if he even has a passport?

People should look behind the words of these “columnists” and search out their specific biases. We all want to be informed, but informed by qualified writers.

Donna Cheshire, Paris