I truly do, and I thank you, sir, but I can't let this pass:

We need to protect them.

We'd love all the help you can give, all the pressure you can exert, and all the visits you want to make. We love company.

But we're not children to be protected. We're Americans.

We didn't need to "protect" the people of Oakland after an earthquake that pancaked a double-deck freeway. What we needed to do was help the injured, clean away the debris, and build the structure safely and properly.

That's all we want: proper levees. Remember: the hurricane had passed and everything had been messed up, but not destroyed. We would've been fine if the goddamn Corps of Engineers (a federal agency) had done their proper jobs. As for not being able to get Americans bottled water for a week when it was plentiful 30 miles away...again, we don't need protection. We just need people who can do their goddam jobs.

Maybe we do need protection. Protection from our leaders.

From you, we'll take friendship. And offer hospitality in return.