President Bush, you were my commander-in-chief for eight long years. In that time, you had me respond to a wars abroad and crises at home. I’ve had to kiss my wife and daughter and say goodbye to them one too many times as I deployed to those conflicts. Now, I get to say goodbye to you – and as I do, I wonder how you will be judged as a Commander-in-Chief.

Will you be remembered as a man who stood strong in the face of a world enemy, like Roosevelt in World War II – I am sure you would like to think so in regards to your fight against Islamic Extremism. Will you be remembered as a leader who stared down a superpower, as Kennedy did during the Cuban Missile Crisis – not when America is the only superpower left. Will you be remembered as a president torn by the need to do what’s right and anger over the war back at home – maybe, depending on how much importance history will put on Cindy Sheehan. Will you be remembered as someone who boosted our military and looked to the future, like the military under Reagan and his “Star Wars” program – considering retention rates these days, maybe not. Will you be remembered as the Commander-in-Chief who used us like a “world police force” to stop conflicts here and there, as Clinton did – signs point to no.

For me Sir, I am happy to say goodbye to you, and I am happy to say hello again to my wife and daughter. Regardless of how history judges you, I will get to grow old with my family, unlike many of my fellow soldiers, marines, sailors, and airman who won’t have that chance because they lost their lives following your orders. You shouldn’t care about how history judges you – you should only care about the judgment of those families whose spouses and fathers said goodbye, only to never say hello again.

- TB