Letters

He kept us safe

Re "Bush and history," editorial, Jan. 19

The Times writes that "no one would dispute that the president must be vigilant about preventing another devastating terrorist attack," but then complains about President Bush's "flawed policies." In spite of all the negatives that can be said about those policies, one thing is more important: In the years since 9/11, not once was the U.S. subject to a major attack at home or abroad, and no headlines reported thousands of American casualties. This is not because of a lack of trying or the demise of our enemies. Someone was losing sleep over this for the last eight years -- President Bush.

We can argue forever about his "flawed policies," but are we willing to trade "flawed policies" for thousands of American casualties? The Times' argument is made under the implicit assumption that such a trade-off never existed.

Nahum Gat

Manhattan Beach

Glad to see him gone

Re "Bush and history," editorial, Jan. 19

History will reveal that the Bush administration was far worse than we can begin to imagine.

It was so bad that a black man could be elected president in this racist country. It was so bad that the Teflon coating of Ronald Reagan is being shattered. It was so bad that there's a chance the Republicans won't be back in power for another half a century.

Joan Meijer

Los Angeles

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I get a little tired of hearing that one of Bush's "successes" was his pressing for the increased funding for AIDS.

Preventing a disease is preferable to treating it after it occurs, and condoms have proved the single best preventive measure we have to date. Bush steadfastly and consistently barred anyone getting U.S. funds from mentioning -- let alone distributing -- condoms.

Arthur Fleisher II MD

Northridge

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Re "What Bush leaves behind," Opinion, Jan. 18

President Bush requested that he "be judged on just one question: ... Did he make the nation safer [after the 9/11 attacks]?" Doyle McManus is overly generous when he answers in the affirmative.

Much of Bush's alleged accomplishment is based on the fact that there have been no successful terrorist attacks on the U.S. since 9/11. It's also true that there have been no elephant tramplings in Washington during that time, but that's because of a lack of wild elephants and not anything that Bush did.