Dangerous and uncivilized

Re “CIA chief confirms use of waterboarding,” Feb. 6

I was saddened and angered by the news that the CIA chief believes the infamous practice of waterboarding can be justified under certain circumstances. This practice has been universally recognized by civilized nations and international law to be torture. That top officials of our government are so out of step with civilized notions of humanity is extremely distressing.

Yes, the members of Al Qaeda do constitute a threat to us. But have we thought about what we are losing by lowering ourselves to their level of barbarity? The only victory that Al Qaeda can ever win is to cause us to abandon our fundamental notions of human decency and liberty. If we, as a people, allow our leaders to compromise our values and humanity in the name of national security, then we not only share responsibility for the criminal actions they commit in our name, we forfeit our place among civilized nations.

Chris Apostal

Silver Lake

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Arguing for permission to use “enhanced” interrogation techniques, otherwise known as torture, CIA Chief Michael V. Hayden warns Congress, “If you create a box, we will play inside the box without exception,” which in his view would “increase the danger to America.” The box he rails against is the rule of law as set down by international treaty and Congress. Allowing the agency to act outside that box poses a greater and more concrete danger to our founding principles than the hypothetical threats he and the administration hope to thwart.

Finally, why aren’t the people who commit these crimes prosecuted?

John De Simio

Los Angeles