To the Editor:

Re "The Self-Correcting Presidency," by Ross Douthat (The New York Times on the Web, Sept. 21), assessing the administration of George W. Bush:

Mr. Douthat is correct that many prominent Democrats supported the Iraq war resolution, but more politicians might have expressed their reservations if the Bush administration and its cheering section hadn't made an honest discussion of the merits of invading Iraq impossible. It's very hard to have a reasoned discussion when you're being called an "America hater" and an "appeaser."

While I personally opposed the Iraq misadventure from the start and would never vote for anyone who voted in favor of the resolution, it's unrealistic to expect politicians to commit political suicide by opposing a war against a government that was alleged to be linked to the Sept. 11 attacks and was alleged to be building nuclear, chemical and biological weapons that would be used in further attacks on America.

Not only is truth the first casualty of war, but in this case it was the first casualty of the run-up to war.

Larry Lubin
New York, Sept. 21, 2009