To the editor:

Friday, the chief of staff for the vice president of the United States was indicted on charges of lying to a federal grand jury and FBI agents and obstructing an investigation. What a sad day for America. The first senior White House official indicted on felony charges in the recent history of our country.

Why was he lying? To cover up the lies that led the United States to war in Iraq. Lies on lies. In a vicious attempt to intimidate and silence those who would disclose their lies, senior members of the Bush administration placed the life of a covert CIA agent, her family and all other agents with which she was associated at grave risk. This was treason. Then they lied when their dirty deed was discovered and further dishonored the White House, the presidency and the country. They know no shame.

Yes, it is disgusting, but the biggest crime is that the American people were lied to in order to secure support for starting a war in Iraq. A war we can’t get out of, that has cost the lives of more than 2,000 young American men and women, and has so bankrupted our country that Friday’s news was the Republican plan to throw 300,000 people off food stamps and 40-60,000 children out of the school lunch program. This will save $595 million. Ironically, Exxon Mobil announced yesterday that they made $9.9 billion in the last three months. They truly know no shame. It is time for “regime change” at home.

Doug Burger,

Lawrence