Three Letters: SOFA, "Diversity", and Prying Janet Reno

No intros necessary:

1. Under the title, "Obama abides by Bush SOFA":

Editor,

You deceive your readers when you suggest US forces are withdrawing from Iraqi cities on June 30, 2009 based on a unilateral decision by President Obama when, in fact, US forces are withdrawing in accordance with the status of force agreement (SOFA) the Bush Administration negotiated with the Iraqi government. President Obama is doing nothing more than complying with the terms of the SOFA negotiated by President Bush (Beginning the end in Iraq, June 23).

I might add, Bush's SOFA with the Iraqi government was necessary because United Nations Resolution 1790, unanimously approved by the United Nations Security Council, only extended the mandate of the multinational force that liberated Iraq through December 31, 2008.

Lest the Editorial Board of the Boston Globe (notable for its lack of diversity, by the way), be tempted to further mislead its readers, President Obama's plans to withdraw all US troops by December 31, 2011 is also consistent with the terms of the Bush SOFA. (End of first letter.)

2. Under the title, "Obama's Cabinet less "diverse" than Bush's":

Editor,

Mr. Peter Canellos is simply wrong when he repeats the already-tired Obama-Biden administration's lie that their Cabinet is the "most diverse" in history (Obama's unintended fusion in Sotomayor selection, June 23, A2).

I only had to go back one President to find a President with a more diverse Cabinet.

In 2005, President George W. Bush had Gen. Colin Powell (black male, replaced by black female, Rice) at State, Alberto Gonzalez (Hispanic male) at Justice, Gale Norton (white female) at Interior, Carlos Gutierrez (Hispanic male) at Commerce, Elaine Chao (Asian female) at Labor, Alphonso Jackson (black male) at HUD, Norman Mineta (Asian male, replaced by white female, Peters) at Transportation, Spenser Abraham (Arab male) at Energy and Rod Paige (black male, replaced by white female, Spelling) at Education.

And, depending on how Obama and his friends in the liberal media need to count white women in order to claim diversity, it's arguable that President Bush's first Cabinet was more diverse than President Obama's. (End of second letter.)

3. Under the title, "Reno Requested Expansion of Clinton Investigation":

Editor,

The lie repeated so many times, it's easy to see how the letters to the editor fact-checker could miss the lie so common, especially among delusional liberals and Democrats: "a decade ago the Republican Party forced the American people to endure a year of misery by delving . . . into the personal life of our President (Letters, June 26)."

As people familiar with the facts know, U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, expanded the scope of the Independent Counsel already investigating President Clinton to include Clinton's perjury and obstruction of justice related to violating Ms. Paula Jones' civil rights.

In her January 16, 1998 petition to the Court requesting the expansion, General Reno wrote, "In accordance with the Independent Counsel Reauthorization Act of 1994, I hereby notify in writing the special division of the court that I have commenced a preliminary investigation . . . As a result of my inquiry into (the Jones) matter, I request expansion of the jurisdiction of Independent Counsel . . . to further investigate and determine whether prosecution is warranted. The court has already been informed of this matter and my request orally . . . It would be appropriate for Independent Counsel . . . to handle this matter because (counsel) is currently investigating similar allegations involving possible efforts to influence witnesses . . . ." (End of third letter.)