It was interesting to read Mr. Parker’s unedited version of last week’s response to my last post.

In his letter he refers about me not having a dog in this fight. In another sentence he refers to me as follows: “Mr. Jansen (with his jumbled syntax and run-on sentences) tells us we’ve only lost 3,000 soldiers, so what’s the big deal?”

First of all, Mr. Parker, I was making the point about our lower casualties over the period of years that the war on Islamic terrorists in Iraq has been going on. A loss of one life is too much for me, but they volunteered to put their life on the line to protect us. I remember even as far back as the first war against Iraq hearing the media “experts” talk about tens of thousands of body bags that would be necessary to bring our casualties home.

Second, while I may have used “jumbled syntax” and “run-on sentences,” English is my second language. As a licensed state of Georgia court registered interpreter, one of my four businesses, I wonder how well you could write in my native language. I passed rigorous written and oral tests to be licensed. I also wonder how well you could do with simultaneous or consecutive interpreting in courts, hospitals, depositions, and doctor’s appointments.

I DO have a dog in this fight, Mr. Parker: the defense of our freedom and the future of my grandchildren.

You continue with: “Personally I think anyone who supports this useless waste of power and lives is a complete moron.” Here you go again with personal insults, you just can’t seem to keep from using them. Once again, sir, when you resort to personal insults, you are losing credibility and the argument.

Next you go on with: “What about all those ties to al Qaeda claimed by both President Bush and Vice President Cheney (and Gerard Jansen on Dec. 3, 2003)?”

The answer is a release of Saddam’s document in which a letter by the member of Saddam’s Al Mukabarat to a superior, dated Sept. 15, 2001, reports a pre-9/11 conversation between an Iraqi intelligence source and a Taliban Afghani consul. Do a search and you will find the actual translated letter with all the details. It implicates beyond doubt ties of al Qaeda and the Taliban with Iraq. I can also still remember Saddam paying $25,000 to members of families of terrorist suicide volunteers.

Another statement: “Yet Misters Hoffman and Jansen continue to believe that Mel Gibson is Braveheart and had an affair with a 1-year-old princess.” That one I don’t even want to bother with.

I want to remind you of a so-called Operation Merlin reported by James Risen in the New York Times. Talk about a hair-brained idea!

Reports Risen: “It’s not clear who originally came up with the idea [to give Tehran nuclear blueprints], but the plan was first approved by Mr. Clinton.”

“Beginning in February 2000, the CIA recruited a Russian scientist who had defected to the U.S. years earlier. His mission: Take the nuclear blueprints to Vienna to sell them, or simply give them, to the Iranian representatives for the International Atomic Energy Agency.”

Dubbed “Operation Merlin,” the plan was supposed to steer Iranian physicists off track by incorporating design flaws in the blueprints that would render the information worthless.

But in what may turn out to be one of the greatest foreign policy blunders of all time, Operation Merlin backfired when the Russian scientist spotted the design flaws immediately and even offered to help Iran fix the problems. Now see the mess we have with Iran.

As far as seeing people get killed and wounded, tortured and all the abuses that cruel government inflicts on their subjects, I have seen them in person.

A very good friend of mine was executed right in front of my eyes. The reason? He did not move out of the way fast enough when told to. It was not pleasant to wear some of his brain tissue all over my clothes. I have seen plenty of executions, hangings, and torture.

In your closing statement you say: ”If you support the troops, keep the bumper sticker and find an actual way to help. If you support Bush, I still think you’re an idiot.”

I found an actual way to help, Mr. Parker. I contribute to the VFW, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Salute American Heroes, Help Hospitalized Veterans and others. I have the uttermost respect for the heroes that defend our freedom of this my adopted country. In my family I have members that have served as Marines, Army, and Navy and for that I am grateful.

As far as your last personal insult, I guess I’ll plead guilty. I know you believe that, but I think you cannot be convinced that you are wrong. I don’t agree with a many things Mr. Bush has done, but one of the duties of government is to protect our country, and he is trying, that is more than Mr. Clinton did. As far as I am concerned I am done with this subject.

Gerard Jansen
Peachtree City, Ga.

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