I feel that many people are so focused on tearing down whatever administration or political party or ideology they disagree with (such as the Jan. 6 letter by Lt. Col. Portia McCracken, USAF, Ret.) that a very important point is overlooked. America can only continue to be the envy of the world so long as we continue to lead and not follow the world.

Our military is the finest, best trained, best equipped and, of course, most highly motivated in their desire to defend their country. However, Ms. McCracken has chosen to weaken the organization she herself was a member of by attacking the president and painting him as the embodiment of evil.

She charges that whoever sits in the Oval Office can send our young men and women in uniform to their deaths unchecked by our other elected government officials, i.e. Congress. Iraq had been a growing problem long before this administration took over and after 9/11, we could not stand around waiting for the next attack. We needed to seek out those who would destroy us or aide others who would and prevent them from doing any more harm. President Bush made decisions as we elected him to do and the rest of our government agreed.

The accusation Ms. McCracken makes is a double-edged sword because it instills doubts in the minds of the people who protect all of us and it generally diminishes the trust of the American people who are still reeling from past unpopular wars and political leaders who disgraced themselves. It promotes a false theory that we must have a perfect knowledge of every aspect of any situation before and after action is taken or we should do nothing.

A fear of finding out later that the facts in our possession were wrong must not paralyze our government or cause us to become impotent in the eyes of the world. I do not know of a single government or person anywhere who could be that perfect, but I know with every fiber of my being that if America does not stand up for the ideals it believes to be true and help other democracies or countries we believe are seeking freedom, we will soon be all alone and we will not survive as a free people.

America was created by people who were imperfect but desired a chance to try. Our forefathers welcomed differing views and from the very outset accepted constructive criticism, that each of us works to find common ground and then put our efforts toward finding the best solution possible for that moment. This will scare our enemies out of their socks because they will no longer be fighting multiple squabbling groups but a truly united people determined to learn from past mistakes and look to the future with the knowledge that we can always do better together.

God bless America, our military and our best efforts to do good in the world.

Allen Barney, USN (Retired)

Oak Harbor