Saddam Hussein was a known murderer, provisioner and financier of terrorism. He had already attacked four countries. He had already used poison gas against three cities. Yes, his scientists deceived him about WMD. We knew, literally, as much as Saddam and his generals did. That's 24-karat intelligence.

I saw the video of the blind mullah gloating, laughing with Osama bin Laden. Obviously they believed 9/11 was only the beginning of Allah's glorious victory, as thousands more scruffy boys waited excitedly, hoping to perpetrate worse against the Great Satan.

From my heart, I am proud of George W. Bush for his decisive action. Those who say he "deceived" Americans are like those who charge that Jews evacuated the Twin Towers before planes hit: despicable. Monday morning quarterbacks look as small as bugs alongside the real players.

Peter Stearns

Lodi