Edition: U.S. / Global

Portrait of a President on a Revealing Night

Published: April 15, 2004

To the Editor:

Those who heard the president's press conference (front page, April 14) must have been struck by one overwhelming sentiment: we are fully at war and we cannot afford to lose or retreat.

Iraq is a front line in that war, which we must pursue to a successful conclusion. From that there can be no retreat, under pain of severely wounding ourselves and the whole free world in this war on Islamic terrorism.

This is beyond politics, and the only question for the American people in November is who can best win that war.

If we win, the other problems we face (the economy, health care, Social Security, jobs) can be worked out and improved. If we lose that war, all the rest won't make much difference. That is the crucial question that the American people will have to answer in November 2004, as they did in 1944, 1916, 1864 and 1812.


Houston, April 14, 2004