The actions of an Iraqi moron in Baghdad illustrate what likely was the biggest mistake that President Bush made, believing that Iraqis would treasure freedom and know how to function as a free country. If that had been true, our troops could have left years ago.

I’m again reminded of a quote from Edward Gibbon: “In the end more than they wanted freedom, they wanted security. When the Athenians finally wanted not to give to society but for society to give to them, when the freedom they wished for was freedom from responsibility, then Athens ceased to be free.”

My recalling this quote usually occurs when I read or hear in the news media about what we are doing to ourselves in this country. Frightening, isn’t it?

Gary T. McGavran

Bellevue