What is one more mistake among friends?
CHARLIE THOMPSON Athens

President Bush proved himself the master of understatement when he admitted that mistakes had been made in Iraq.

Actually, that entire operation has been one mistake after another, starting with the "mistaken" allegation that weapons of mass destruction existed there.

Now he assures us that he's got it right this time and is sending in 22,000 (or so) additional troops to prove it.

Unfortunately, it's pretty much a sure thing that Bush's record for failure in Iraq will remain unblemished.

But what the heck - at this juncture what difference will one more mistake make (except those whose loved ones are killed or wounded)?

His mistakes pale in comparison to the mistake the American people are making by refusing to (figuratively) demand Bush's head on a platter.

Instead, we meekly allow Bush to ignore the opinion of the vast majority of Americans and of respected former presidents, generals, diplomats and world leaders who know that this is just one more stupid mistake on Bush's part. This degree of public negligence borders on being un-American. Surely we aren't that lily-livered?