Richard Clarke’s claims about the Bush administration, al-Qaida, and Iraq are very disturbing. The Bush administration’s attack dogs keep referring to him as a “Clinton administration holdover,” as if the fact he worked for the previous president automatically makes him a liar.

The president who hired Clarke was Ronald Reagan. Republicans kept him in his counter-terrorism position through the administration of the first President Bush.

Then, yes, he was with Clinton for two terms, and when that was over, he was asked to stay on by our current president, who he voted for in 2000. In other words, he’s been trusted for a couple of decades by presidents from both sides of the political divide.

But the truth should never get in the way of politics, should it? Regardless of his past, if a man disagrees with you, paint him as a pariah and try to destroy him. Never mind that the security of the United States and survival of its citizens is involved. This is yet another reason why so many of us hate politics and politicians.

William Stosine

Iowa City