Dear Mr. President

Via democrats.org

What does it say when President Bush can't answer the questions about the war in Iraq from a 10 year-old girl honestly and directly?

From the Morning Sentinel:

Ten-year-old Emily Shrader was watching television in her father's tractor-trailer at the beginning of a trip from Maine to Florida when she decided to get involved in her nation's foreign policy.

"It (television news) showed how many people were dying in Iraq, so I just started to write," said Shrader, a fourth-grade student in Lauren Taylor's class at Canaan Elementary School.

From Maine to Florida, Shrader, who was on April vacation, wrote, then edited and rewrote her letter to President Bush.

She told President Bush that her father, a long-haul trucker, often comes home on weekends, but if she didn't get to see him for over a month she would be very sad.

Think, she asked him, how he would feel if one of his parents went off to war and never came back.

"You could never even see him or say good-bye. You may never be able to say 'I love you Dad or Mom again,' " wrote Shrader.

Should we be surprised that he is so out-of-touch with the American people and their concerns? Should we be surprised that his answer to a child's dismay at the death and destruction is more of the same tired rhetoric:

"Democracy is on the march in Iraq .... I encourage you to support these service men and women who are willing to sacrifice for a cause greater than self," wrote the president.

Honestly, no, we should not be surprised - not when the Administration is content to ignore the facts, and mislead the public. The President would do well to take his own advice and support the service men and women by answering the question Americans of all ages are asking - What is our plan to succeed in Iraq and at what point can our troops begin to return home?