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“That’s not a lie, it’s a terminological inexactitude.”

Alexander Haig

One of the lessons that I have learned during the six decades of my life is that when someone in government says “trust me” I immediately begin to wonder why I should. I wasn’t always that way and as a matter of fact in my early days I couldn’t have cared less who got elected or what they stood for.

Watergate was the beginning of my distrust of government and the funny thing is I was stationed with the British Army in northern Germany when I became aware of what Watergate was about. I have enjoyed reading newspapers ever since I could read and the numerous tabloids the British have was an abundant source to read about the scandal in the White House. Besides, their cartoons about Nixon were absolutely hilarious. Then in early 1974 I was stationed at the Pentagon and frequently traveled to the White House when Nixon was still president.

Fast forward to Oct. 3, 2014, when there was a press conference at the White House on ebola. The president was in some other place either playing golf, fund raising and just otherwise avoiding the press on such a hot subject. It’s barely worth mentioning who was at the press conference because all of them more or less patted themselves on their backs on how great the administration was doing in the fight against ebola. For me there’s only one problem. If this is the best that the Obama administration can do in protecting Americans against such a deadly disease, I’m out of here for either the Arctic or Antarctica where hopefully the cold would do wonders in preventing ebola from spreading.

The Obama administration’s first response to fight the spread of ebola was to send 3,000 or so members of our military to Africa to help stop Ebola from becoming a worldwide epidemic. I was in the military when the AIDS virus became a problem for the entire planet, and even the military couldn’t stop it. Make no mistake about it, I personally fear that America now has 3,000 reasons to fear that Ebola will spread on our very own shores. It’s because the very first case of someone coming to the United States lied that he had been in contact with someone in Africa infected with ebola.

So let’s go back to a couple of weeks ago when a member of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) stated America was on top of this disease. Oh, that’s right. This is the same agency that just might have lost vials containing anthrax or, even worse, samples of deadly diseases like smallpox. I am rather perplexed how the CDC can claim everything is under control when the person who came into the United States lied about being in contact with someone who had been exposed to ebola. Think about that for a minute. I am sure that some terrorist has and believes the reward of 70 virgins in Heaven is well worth it.

What’s even worse is that the person reported to a hospital in Texas complaining of ebola-like symptoms and given antibiotics and sent packing out of the hospital even after admitting he was in Africa. This happened while the boneheads in Washington claim that they are protecting American citizens. It’s an ongoing story and, at this point, at least 50 or more people are being quarantined at home. Watching the news, I haven’t seen anyone watching 24/7 to keep them at home and knowing human nature, I have no doubt that someone will want a Quarter Pounder or a beer and if they are unlucky and have ebola we have to hope that it doesn’t spread. I know human nature.

I was hospitalized several times when serving in Vietnam. It didn’t matter why I was in a hospital, I was smart enough to get out and about if I wanted. I have to believe a terrorist could do much better.

Lane Hiltunen of Windham wonders what’s next for America, which is a scary thought.