Dear Ms. Albright,

I do hope this note finds you in the best spirits possible as you watch so much of what you have worked so hard to achieve be partially destroyed by what may be the most immature, myopic, and easily deceived President in U.S. History.

Hundreds of Foreign Affairs articles have been my reading over the years but never before have had I felt compelled to respond or to open my heart and mind to the author.

I was truly mesmerized by the insight and restraint you revealed in your article, “Bridges, Bombs or Bluster.I felt while reading and thinking about your thoughts that you were revealing your partially broken heart.Yet, you strived mightily to not overstate your case for the horrendous damage the misguided leadership of Bush, Rumsfeld, Cheney and Wolfowitz have on the standing of The U.S. among the nations of the world.

Much of what you presented were concepts that had already broken my own heart. But you most certainly have a depth of perspective and experience that a three times retired high school counselor cannot have.So, as one discouraged American, I wish to thank you both for your faithful public service and your insightful article.

Although you restrained yourself from referring to the other three pathetic individuals previously named, this is what came to my own mind regarding Wolfowitz while I was dealing with my own hopelessness for the U.S. after completing your article.

For the horrible, destructive influence Wolfowitz has had on the weak minds of the men in this Administration and even on Miss Condoleezza Rice, I see him as a secular Rasputin wearing a necktie and carrying an advanced degree. But like Rasputin, he evilly seduces the weak minds of those he encounters and leads them in paths of wickedness which he cleverly disguises as paths of progress. I wish to share another observation. I do truly think that the God of History who has anointed our Risen Lord Jesus, may have actually come to the conclusion that the U.S. government has become too arrogant in the way it uses its power in the world and is using these four clowns along with the Republican National Committee and some Pentagon clowns etc., to bring our arrogant empire under His Judgment.

You suggest that it is to secure a place in history which drives the bush Administration’s Iraq policy and not oil.I do agree with your place in history conclusion.However, is it truly an either – or scenario or is it more likely a both – and situation?I sense that the administration had justified concern that our lack of control over the faucet pouring cheap oil from that area of the world could lead to a global economic catastrophe.Thus, such a calamity would severely impact the standard of living of which a majority of Americans have grown accustomed.

Secondly, I think that your desire to be an optimistic American who has faith that our system of government can survive the self destructive impulses of self destructive anti-leaders such as Bush and those gathered around him, is not reality based.I believe it was the noted historian Herbert Butterworth who made the observation that even that best form of government has great difficulty surviving the onslaughts of leaders whose human nature makes them exceptionally destructive. This is especially true if these unscrupulous persons are somewhat influential, charismatic, and self deceived and bent on deceiving others.

Therefore, considering the widespread disrespect that the U.S. currently has earned around the world and  in light of the debacle our anti-leadership has created in Iraq, I think the case has already been made. Reasonable persons such as Colin Powell and others will be unable to compensate for the damage done by destructive, arrogant, Bush personality types, who control tremendous power.

I think the following analogy may serve to make my point. Let's say that two athletes of similar ability are playing a tennis match with no referee to call the lines. Suppose one player is quite honest with strong ethical values. But the other player is dishonest and will misrepresent line calls in order to always win close points. Regretfully, if the dishonest, driven person has the power to determine the outcome, he will always defeat the person of principle unless outside factors influence the outcome.