Getting the 9/11 facts straight

I was disappointed to hear Conrad Burns get his facts wrong and slander our closest ally during the Tester-Burns debate in Whitefish. He repeated the discredited myth that two of the 9/11 terrorists "came out of Canada."

It makes me wonder if Sen. Burns read the Sept. 11 Commission Report. Surprising since he talks about 9/11 so much.

The commission proved that all the hijackers entered the United States through other countries, not Canada, with visas issued by American embassies. Former Attorney General John Ashcroft long ago put this myth to rest: "None of the terrorists from the Sept. 11 carnage came to the United States from Canada."

Jon Tester was right to emphasize the importance of good relations with our allies around the world. And he is right to criticize President Bush for squandering these good relations.

On the other hand, Conrad Burns is wrong to defend President Bush's ham-handed foreign policy, fear mongering and alienation of allies.

Canada is our friend and neighbor. We share a lot in common, including cross-border waters, and we need to cooperate. Canada works closely with us to fight terrorism. But relations have been strained by false accusations.

Burns should apologize to Canada and to the Montana voters he misled.

Kerrie Byrne

Whitefish