Why is it that accountability is so evasive in the Bush administration? Lies about the reasons for going to war have damaged our reputation as a nation, and thousands of people have lost their lives. Iraq was not purchasing weapons materials from Niger, and there were no weapons of mass destruction. We had warnings from people like Ambassador Joseph Wilson, but the Bush administration already had an agenda for war. They only needed a palatable reason to feed the American people.

Karl Rove, who is indeed a mastermind of propaganda, knew just what to do to silence the truth coming from Joe Wilson’s reports. He leaked information about Wilson’s wife, a CIA undercover operative, and jeopardized her safety and the safety of this nation, thus committing a crime, which at the very least should be punishable by the loss of his job. President Bush promised to fire anyone who was found to have leaked the information. Do you think he will? Do you think he should? Do you think he knew?

One thing is for sure: The truth doesn’t seem to be surfacing much on many issues facing this country. The deficit isn’t troubling to the present leadership, and why should it be after the record profits and tax breaks corporate America is experiencing? Environmental protection laws are being phased out because they don’t support corporations. The president doesn’t believe in the latest scientific reports about global warming. He doesn’t have to.

Bush doesn’t have to keep his promise to fire the person who leaked Valerie Plame’s name, and he surely doesn’t have to hand over to Congress any documents concerning Supreme Court nominee John Roberts.

I can’t wait for the latest spin in the next chapter of “Lies and Deception.”

— Candace Hull, Ojai