Reaction to Bush `report' shows constant need for heroes.

The following editorial ran in The Miami Herald on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2004:

___

We loved action-hero flicks ``Spiderman 2'' and ``The Bourne Supremacy'' this summer. In fact, Americans spent some $500 million of love. We love heroes because we all want to be inspired _ we all want someone to believe in. And from movie theaters to voting booths, that hope remains. But who could ever imagine George W. Bush as a superhero?

In August, GQ magazine presented an investigative report entitled ``Bush: The Missing Years.'' The startling report by GQ senior editor Jason Gay revealed the secrets of President Bush's unexplained period of absence from military service during 1972-73.

Gay's article presents pictures and quotes revealing that Bush was actually part of a secretive team of international espionage specialists. Their undercover missions ranged from infiltrating China's political elite to crossing enemy lines in Vietnam. Unfortunately, Bush cannot discuss this clandestine service because officers in the highly confidential unit were sworn to secrecy.

GQ's discovery is shocking: Bush spent his "missing years" in honorable service to his country. Using his education and personal charm, he put his life on the line to penetrate secretive international circles.

It's a captivating account, but there's one catch: The article, the convincing pictures and scores of quotes are all an elaborate satire.