Bush to blame for my son’s death

IF it were not so horribly sad, I would have laughed out loud when I read the letter (June 13) from American Joyce Anderson Gleasure about President Bush and US Middle East policy.

I totally disagree with her analysis of Bush’s performance.

First he had six years of a Congress with the majority in the same party as himself.

Now his party is in the minority, but not enough to ensure his vetoes can be overturned. Yes, the American people have huge support for Israel, but that does not automatically make it the correct position.

Since the death of my son from injuries suffered in Iraq, I have spent a lot of time looking into the Palestinian situation. The truth of it is definely not well known or desired by the general public in the US.

Ms Gleasure mentions the fact that we Americans were attacked by 19 militants on 9/11. Yes, but the facts also show that Iraq had nothing to do with this rather small band of terrorists.

So what do we do as a nation? We invade a sovereign nation that has neither a plan nor the ability to harm us. And the facts show that our president, along with his henchmen, knew the truth about weapons of mass destruction and the connection to 9/11.

So maybe it is a stretch to say it was a “gift from God”, but in reality it gave the neocons the grounds for doing something they wanted to do all along.

I am ashamed of, and even angrier at, the President Bush.

I hold him and his gang responsible for the death of my son and the other 4,100 young soldiers just doing their duty.

It is the civilian leadership that has taken their patriotism and used it for their own personal gain. How utterly despicable to use fear and threats on your own people. Not Saddam on his people, but Bush on the American people.

True, terrorists used handicapped people to deliver bombs, etc, but what about dropping bombs on innocent civilians in the name of 9/11, when it was known there was no connection?

I found it interesting and informative that Ms Gleasure does not mention Iraq in her letter.

She may be able and willing to forget it, but I along with all the other members of my group will never be able to just ignore the facts.

John Fenton

Gold Star Families Speak Out

(Father of US Marine Sgt Matthew Fenton, died May 5, 2006)

Crosshaven

Co Cork