Rex Downie, Jr. – 10/20/04

This page was last updated on October 20, 2004.

The risk of foolishness; Rex Downie, Jr.; Beaver County Times; October 20, 2004.

In general, I agree with the letter’s sentiment. That said, I disagree with, “Those who accuse President Bush reveal their own foolishness. He only relied on weak evidence, like Dan Rather.”

All current reports indicate President Bush relied on wrong intelligence, but I believe it’s incorrect to equate mistaken intelligence with Rathergate.

All of the “post-mortem” reports indicate wrong information, but none allege intent to deceive. That was not the case in Rathergate. Dan Rather and his team were warned the documents may be forgeries, but Rather and his team ignored the warnings. I find it hard to believe a man with Rather’s many years of experience could be fooled by, what almost everyone agrees are, obvious forgeries.