To the editor:

Recent expressions of compassion by Secretary Rumsfeld are underwhelming! Donald Rumsfeld’s reading of his statement of compassion, a week ago, rang hollow for me, especially when his delivery was halting and appeared less than genuine.

President Bush, and now Don Rumsfeld, have “suffered” the criticisms of a lack of compassion for good reason! The continuing revelations of the “quagmire” involving the loss of far more American lives, including Iraqi civilians, is obviously far greater than even they anticipated.

We are now getting reports on the horrors of Bush’s war. The numbers of Iraqi children and women, not to mention the men, who have been slaughtered are seldom mentioned. Seldom, if ever, any expression of compassion there. Since they are “the enemy” they really don’t seem to count.

The administration speaks of our heroic service men and women. This is an administration where virtually all chose to avoid “heroic” service for themselves. Now, some of our heroic service men and women are beginning to speak out about the travesty of this war, the lack of preparedness, the unnecessary slaughter of children and women, and, yes, of men.

How long will we accept the destruction of human lives — American service men and women, coalition forces, civilian workers and Iraqis — along with the destruction of the environment in Iraq?

Forrest Swall,

Lawrence