President Bush has exercised poor judgment, but that is no excuse for not re-evaluating past mistakes and taking corrective action. Every day there are news reports of more deaths. I think President Clinton would have asked the following questions and taken corrective action.

Why are we still there?

We see images of death and destruction on TV every night.

Why are we still there?

We took this land by force. We occupied it. It causes us nothing but trouble.

Why are we still there?

Many of our children go there but never come back.

Why are we still there?

Murderers, rapists, pedophiles and thugs enjoy celebrity status.

Why are we still there?

Their government is unstable.

Why are we still there?

Many of their people are uncivilized.

Why are we still there?

Their land is subject to natural disasters and we are obliged to come to their aid.

Why are we still there?

They have more than 1,000 religious sects which we do not understand.

Why are we still there?

Their cultures, foods and diverse ways of life are unfathomable to most ordinary Americans.

Why are we still there?

They cannot secure their borders.

Why are we still there?

They are billions of dollars in debt and it will cost billions more to rebuild.

Why are we still there?

It is now quite clear!

WE MUST PULL OUT OF CALIFORNIA NOW!

That’s my story and I am sticking to it.

(Milo A. Nickel is the former president and COO of Louisiana State Newspapers.)