‘Torture’ and a Senator in the Hot Seat

Re “ ‘Torture’ Fracas Draws Apology,” June 22: Has it finally come to this? Speaking out against torture is now considered “shameful” and “heinous slander”? Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) has absolutely nothing to apologize for. Those who think torture of prisoners is acceptable because “they are bad people” or because “the terrorists are worse” need to take a long, hard look at themselves and what our country is becoming.

Jeremy Friesner

Pasadena

*

People like Durbin and others in Congress are undermining our war effort. The Nazi analogy is very dangerous; now our enemies are able to quote a Senate leader. The use of torture is an aberration and the government is investigating all allegations.

Don’t they realize that their statements are played on Al Jazeera? They do not play the apologies. The media hyping “torture” is also played on Al Jazeera.

Don’t Congress and the media realize that we are in the middle of a war? These terrorists want to wipe us off the face of the Earth, and instead of wanting us to win, some members of Congress and the media are undermining our efforts.

Judy Herbst

Beverly Hills

*

Durbin, no doubt under heavy “friendly” fire from the usual Democratic comrades in cowardliness, apologized for his fair comparison of the U.S. military’s treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo to how the Nazis, Russians and other historical lowlifes treated their prisoners.

And as for Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and company: How about their outrage? Hey, they protest, how could anyone compare Gitmo with Auschwitz or the Siberian gulag or dare to mention George W. Bush in the same sentence with Pol Pot?

Never mind that the U.S. military is keeping prisoners locked up indefinitely, incommunicado, without being charged, without due process or hearings? As well as well-documented reports of torture.

But Durbin, like other truth-tellers throughout history, has “retracted.” With friends like his fellow Democrats, Durbin has no need for Republicans.

Ronald Rubin

Topanga

*

I do not understand why this senator felt compelled to apologize for his remarks. If these had been U.S. soldiers we would be crying foul. I am disappointed he apologized.

Katy Shepard

Long Beach