Regarding the letter "HCN has it wrong on Bush:" I retired from the Bureau of Land Management after 31 years in resource management (HCN, 2/21/05: HCN has it wrong on Bush). The Bush administration’s policies toward the environment and resource management agencies are best described by an old joke, "The difference between rape and ecstasy is salesmanship."

This administration, including Rebecca Watson, has from the start tried to use salesmanship to cover up what they’ve really been up to. This includes going behind the scenes from the Washington level to short-circuit decisions from the field. This administration is doing everything possible to neuter any management that attempts to comply with the environmental laws and progress made over the past 40 years.

The Bush approach of "lie until they catch you, then repeat it," has been working for them far better than any attempts made to get the truth out.

Doug Troutman
Lakeview, Oregon