Bush should seek special counsel -- like Clinton

To the editor:

One would hope that George Bush would demonstrate at least as much integrity as former President Clinton. When allegations of improprieties regarding Whitewater Bank arose, Clinton promptly requested Attorney General Janet Reno appoint an independent counsel so there could be no conflict of interest marring the investigation. President Bush appears to have been completely unconcerned about the mid-July treasonous felony reportedly committed by "two senior administration officials" of exposing the identity of undercover CIA operative Valerie Plame to six different journalists. Polls demonstrate that 70 percent of Americans believe that an independent counsel is required, yet Bush wants the Justice Department, overseen by political appointee John Ashcroft, to lead the investigation.

John Dean, former White House special counsel during the Watergate scandal, has labeled this act of putting a true patriot's life at risk to get back at her husband as more treacherous than anything the Nixon staff was willing to do. Yet Bush was incurious for nearly two months and, now that the CIA has requested an investigation, is resistant to independent counsel.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time the administration has stonewalled. Vice President Cheney continues to refuse to disclose the energy summit participants, and, far more disturbing, President Bush actively resisted demands for a full investigation into 9-11 and then excised 16 pages about the Saudis from the final report.

To paraphrase Shakespeare, there is something rotten in the White House.

PAUL ZMOLEK

Cape Girardeau