Surprise, surprise, who would have guessed it? Dick Cheney and former President Bush are both writing books (Sentinel, June 24).

Cheney got most of the blurb and Bush got "honorable mention." I know I have said this before, but I think it bears repeating: I do not think Bush can put five words in a row to make a comprehensible sentence. I suspect Laura, being a retired librarian, might be the "ghost" writer in his case.

As for Cheney, I am reminded of a letter I wrote a couple of weeks ago about him (and Bush) saying they both should have seen some combat duty and that they might see war for what it is. Then I remembered that Cheney's well-documented inability to identify his target might be detrimental. I am speaking of his shooting his hunting companion in the face, thinking it was a newly released confined bird, kept for the purpose of having duffers show their mettle as nimble nimrods. Oh, the ecstasy of bringing down a vicious bird. If he had been in combat as I suggested, he could easily be the originator of friendly fire with the result of decimating his own platoon. Nope, no good for combat and no good out of it. Just a misfit.

Incidentally, in the war these two thugs are responsible for starting: the killing still goes on.

Robert W. Vitolo

Waterville