Columnist wrong on Bush

THE EDITOR, Sir:

IN RESPONSE to an article September 14,2001 by Daniel Thwaites, "The unthinkable can happen", he has made a few cogent points. He was however, so far from correct with (part of) his statement, "President Bush heard the news while in Florida, but dallied and buck-shuffled about returning to Washington, as it later emerged".

I take strong exception to such a poor description of the President's return to Washing-ton. FYI, Daniel Thwaites, our country protects its Presidents through the US Secret Service (a branch of the Treasury Dept.). President Bush's security team in view of the horrible and tragic events, routed him through Louisiana and Nebraska for one reason. That reason was nothing about "dallying or buck-shuffling", but all about an intelligent play or a ruse, designed to confuse any further terrorists, given the credible threats directed at Air Force One and the White House.

To imply at such a grief-stricken time the President of the United States was dallying and buck-shuffling is not only incorrect, irresponsible, insensitive but mostly rather foolish, since you neither checked facts or didn't care to know the real reasons. Either way I hope you teach better than you write.

I am etc.,

RAYMOND AUSTIN,

an American citizen

currently residing in

Jamaica.

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