President Bush called it a "war on terror." This is a war against Islamic extremists who have killed as many Americans in worldwide attacks, including 9/11, as the number of casualties we have sustained in Iraq. And then the Obama administration came along and no longer called it a "war on terror" but "an overseas contingency operation."

This is not only a ridiculous play on words but downright stupid. Captured terrorists now are given Miranda rights - the right to remain silent and the right to retain a lawyer. If we had called World War II an overseas contingency operation, should we have given the Germans Miranda rights during the Battle of the Bulge or the Japanese at Iwo Jima?

Now we're giving the mastermind of 9/11, known as KSM, a New York City trial as an ordinary criminal instead of a military trial as a war prisoner. Just as bad, the Nigerian Islamic terrorist who almost crashed a Delta plane causing 300 deaths is being represented by a lawyer in a criminal court.

Our president said he acted as a solo operative even though the terrorist admitted to his connection to Al Qaeda, and Al Qaeda claims responsibility to the bombing that went astray.

The ultimate question is - are we in a war against Islamic terrorists or not, and do we follow the rules of war or not? The answer to this question will determine how we pursue this battle and the eventual outcome. Your vote will decide our treatment of terrorists who have been brainwashed to destroy our country.

Sometimes I get the feeling that we are governed by the Keystone Kops starting at the presidency down through his czars and a corrupt Congress, which has caved in to bribery. Time to start over, term limits.

Monroe Diefendorf

Pinehurst