U.S. Humanity Has Turned Into Hypocrisy

Re “Pervasive Abuse Alleged by Freed Detainees, Red Cross,” May 18: President Bush and his minions have brought shame to the United States of America. As I read about Abu Ghraib prison and now hear of the abusive methods used in other prisons run by Bush, I realize I am ashamed to be what I was once proud to be called ... an American. There is a penalty to pay if we don’t hold the moral high ground with regard to prisoner treatment. How will we decry the abuse of American prisoners in the future if we are guilty of such evil now? Throughout the history of the U.S., we have always been able to hold our heads high in world discussions of inhumanity, but our best efforts in the future will be viewed as simple hypocrisy. Our leaders have failed not only America but the entire world.

We are hearing that the Red Cross and the Christian Peacemakers Team were notifying Iraq administrator L. Paul Bremer III and top military officials of pervasive abuses last year and early this year. There are allegations of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld; the undersecretary for intelligence, Stephen A. Cambone; and Maj. Gen. Geoffrey D. Miller knowing of the policies that brought us to this national disgrace. I have to ask, is this what is meant by compassionate conservatism? Surely we can do better, Mr. Bush.

Roy Wilson

West Covina

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Re “Troops Would Go if Interim Iraqi Leaders Asked,” May 15: What part of these statements don’t I understand? Bremer stated, “Obviously, we don’t stay in countries where we’re not welcome.” And Secretary of State Colin L. Powell says that the troops would leave if asked. These are key players in the Iraq invasion. Maybe the Iraqis only need to say, “Pretty please.”

George Badger

Soquel, Calif.

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Burt Prelutsky mocks the existence of so many “holy” cities in Iraq (letters, May 18). Whether he likes it or not, we have invaded an area that has always been especially sacred for Muslims. Najaf is the burial site of Imam Ali, the son-in-law and spiritual heir of the prophet Muhammad. Karbala is the site of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the prophet’s beloved grandson. Baghdad is filled with sacred sites that have been desecrated by U.S. soldiers, including the mosque of Abu Hanifa, whose school of law is followed by the vast majority of the world’s billion Muslims.

Whether Prelutsky wants to face reality or not, we are inflaming very real religious passions in a part of the world most Americans know nothing about.

Kamran Pasha

Los Angeles

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Though Muslim prisoners were subjected to acts unconscionable in Islam, religious intolerance is rarely considered causative. Why not?

Leonard Greiner

Santa Ana

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The U.S. launches a preemptive war against Iraq using weapons of mass destruction as the reason. The war divides the country and causes rifts with longtime allies. Sarin gas (a potent nerve agent) is found in Iraq, and The Times prints news of it on Page A8 (May 18). Does the word “bias” mean anything to anyone there?

Marc Klein

Los Angeles

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Re “Jolt of Reality to the Senate,” editorial, May 18: The jolt of reality that The Times’ editorialists should consider is the fact that their continuing antiwar, anti-Bush diatribe turns off a large segment of their readership.

Otis Page

Arroyo Grande