Different Reads on the Koran Controversy

Re “Pentagon: Koran Defiled,” June 4: Let’s hope that it doesn’t take as long this time for the Bush administration to get the offending culprit to retract and deny the allegations about Koran abuse. Maybe the Pentagon could deny first, retract later to save time. It just doesn’t look good, to be doing these sorts of things. Worse to admit it.

Let’s learn to put this stuff behind us before it gets in front of us.

Jerry Schaefer

Long Beach

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The incidents of desecration of copies of the Koran are certainly deplorable, but they appear to be the result of insensitivity and ignorance on the part of individuals.

In my long life, I have learned that there are a great number of people who are ignorant and insensitive about other cultures.

However, they do not represent the deliberate policy of the U.S. government or military, and they do not justify the taking of innocent lives.

Abuse of copies of the Koran cannot compare in infamy with the widespread use of suicide bombers.

Marshall Giller

Winnetka

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On June 6, the front-page article, “Pentagon: Koran defiled,” ended with the line: “On Jan. 19 of this year, the Hood report said, another detainee tore up his Koran and ‘tried to flush it down the toilet.’ ”

With all due respect, why wasn’t this the lead of the article?

Mirandi Babitz

San Pedro