Chertoff and his useless gut

Re “Risk of terror strike grows,” July 12

Please spare me Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff’s “gut feeling.” Few question our vulnerability to further terrorist attacks, but his attempt to link immigration reform to a “spectacular” summer attack is a stretch. Last I heard, the terrorists fly here on scheduled airlines or already reside here legally; they don’t cross our southern desert or swim the Rio Grande.

LEE BOTSFORD

Del Mar

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Chertoff professes that the risk of a terror strike in the U.S. this summer is high. He also stated that the risk is as high as it was before the Sept. 11 attacks. President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney always tout their strategy of making the U.S. safer from terrorism. They ran their 2004 campaign on the principle that voting for Democrats would strengthen the terrorists and make us weaker. Now, if the terror threat to the U.S. is as high as it was before 9/11, as Bush’s own Cabinet security guy admits, what does that tell us about the six-year war on terror? It tells me we’re losing.

PETER H. CROSSIN

Stevenson Ranch

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If actual evidence exists regarding a potential attack, share it. Otherwise, Mr. Chertoff, do not patronize the American people with your “gut feeling.” This administration’s insistence on frightening people without substantiated reason is shameful. What is truly frightening to me, if it were not so pathetic, is Chertoff’s assertion that somehow it will be Congress’ fault should America be attacked again. When will the administration stop sacrificing its mouthpieces to the media to divert attention from its own missteps?

MEGAN MACMEEKIN

Valley Glen

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We’ve had it hammered into us for years that we’re “fighting them over there so we don’t have to fight them here.” Yet Chertoff now tells us that he feels it in his gut that an attack is imminent. Meanwhile, more than 3,400 soldiers are dead, not to mention a vast number of Iraqis, and our nation and freedoms are in shambles. Why do I have a funny feeling in my gut that we should stop hanging on to every word of King George and his henchmen?

GORDON WILSON

Laguna Niguel