Criticizing government is a free people’s right

Regarding President Bush’s latest harangue against Senate Democrats for questioning the validity of the Iraq war’s premise after supporting it initially (Nov. 15), I think the case for Democrat hypocrisy has some merit.

Senate Democrats were caught up in the post-9/11 fervor to take action or be deemed unpatriotic or weak. Now, whether it’s political posturing or a crisis of conscience, they’re questioning the facts of the war’s inception. But the reasons ultimately do not matter, because it is the moral obligation of free people to question their government, especially in the commission of war. America is not served by shaming dissenters into silence, and there is no better signal to send in promoting democracy than the sanctity of free discussion and the right of the people to question those in power.

DEBORAH FELIN

Seal Beach

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So our president claims that some Democrats agreed with the sentiment that Saddam Hussein was a grave threat. That may be true, but Bush is not supposed to use that as approval to bolster his own agenda for war and then turn around and say: Look, they thought so too, and now that the heat is on they want to “rewrite history.” No, Mr. President, the politicians aren’t the only critics you have. You need to listen to the very people you claim you represent, as well as the families of the brave men and women who have been put on one extended tour of duty after another. We now know the intelligence was flawed and we were wrong.

REGGIE PAYNE

Diamond Bar

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Now Bush seems to suggest that the Democrats made him attack Iraq. Those Republicans, always playing the victim.

GENE SILVERS

Los Angeles