Long LTTE & Short op/ed. Take your pick, but pick one!

[DemoTex]

1: The haunting realities of President George H.W. Bush’s (41) reference to “a thousand points of light” in his 1989 inaugural speech visit us again. This time the “thousand points of light” are the lost lives of 1000 of America’s finest young men and women. The first of these brave troops died on March 20, 2003. The 1000th Iraq war death occurred on September 7, 2004. A regiment now lost; 1000 good and brave troops.

These 1000 lives were lost in a war that happened because of another “thousand points of light,” the constellation of bright shining lies of President George W. Bush (43). Mr. Bush just couldn’t get his war on quick enough. Bush lied; 1000 died.

Then the former-Lieutenant Bush just couldn’t do his vainglorious victory strut on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln, under a banner proclaiming “Mission Accomplished,” quick enough (May 1, 2003). Since that day, 883 US troops have died.

Then President Bush just couldn’t taunt the tenacious enemy quick enough with his macho “Bring ‘em on!” (July 2, 2003). They brought it on, indeed, and 795 good Americans died.

On December 13, 2003, Saddam Hussein, bedraggled and lousy, was captured in a hidey-hole. The world is a safer place now, we were told. Dover AFB has received 588 flag-draped coffins from Iraq since that day.

The original reasons justifying this $200-billion war are long-gone, down the rabbit hole as it were. The words of Dwight D. Eisenhower, ringing like a Presbyterian deacon, point out the contradictions between war and the teachings of the Prince of Peace: "Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed" (President Dwight D. Eisenhower, April 16, 1953).

As a veteran of 250 air combat missions over Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, I honor the warrior, but not Mr. Bush’s war. As one who can count the names of many friends on the Vietnam Memorial Wall, I grieve for this regiment of good and brave Americans, lost forever in Iraq.

As for President Bush, Vice-President Cheney, Secretary Rumsfeld, and the rest of the PNAC (Plan for the New American Century) gang, Mark Twain busted their crusade over a century ago:
“I bring you the stately matron named Christendom, returning bedraggled, besmirched and dishonoured from pirate-raids in Kiao-Chou, Manchuria, South Africa and the Philippines, with her soul full of meanness, her pocket full of boodle and her mouth full of pious hypocrisies. Give her the soap and a towel, but hide the looking-glass.” Mark Twain, from A Salutation from the 19th to the 20th Century, December 31, 1900.

2: The haunting realities of President George H.W. Bush’s reference to “a thousand points of light” in his 1989 inaugural speech visit us again. This time the “thousand points of light” are the lost lives of 1000 of America’s finest young men and women. The first of these brave troops died on March 20, 2003. The 1000th Iraq war death occurred on September 7, 2004. A regiment now lost; 1000 good and brave troops.

These 1000 lives were lost in a war that happened because of another “thousand points of light,” the constellation of bright shining lies of President George W. Bush . Bush lied; 1000 died.

Since “Mission Accomplished,” May 1, 2003, 883 US troops have died. Since “Bring ‘em on!”, July 2, 2003, 795 good Americans have died. Dover AFB has received 588 flag-draped coffins from Iraq since December 13, 2003, the day Saddam Hussein was captured and we were told the world id a safer place.

The original reasons justifying this $200-billion war are long-gone; down the rabbit hole as it were. As a veteran of 250 air combat missions over Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, I honor the warrior, but not Mr. Bush’s war. As one who can count the names of many friends on the Vietnam Memorial Wall, I grieve for this regiment of good and brave Americans, lost forever in Iraq.

[PA Democrat]

1. Great letters Demo Tex

I like both, but the second, shorter letter will have a better chance of being printed. It's easier for the paper to squeeze in a shorter letter than make room for a long one.

[DemoTex]

3. Good, my choice too.

Needed a second. Thanks PA Democrat!

[mark414]

2. they are both excellent

i'd say whatever has the better chance of getting printed...does your local paper accept editorials from anyone? if not, then go with the LTTE.

on second thought, the LTTE is shorter and more concise, cause you know how much americans read these days.

and finally, thank you for your bravery and courage in serving our country. it's people like you that make me love my country.

[DemoTex]

4. I blast the shorter as a LTTE.

I blast the longer to newspapers that have published my op/eds in the past. I am honored to blast both by my DU friends, in the spirit of Will Pitt.

Mac