"Inside The Interrogation of Detainee 063" [June 20] showed the prison camp at the U.S. naval station at Guantá namo Bay to be a prime example of the hypocrisy that shrouds the U.S. By indefinitely detaining "enemy combatants" without availing them of legal defense, we show the world that the lives of non-Americans are unimportant to us. That is not a great way to spread democracy. If there is indisputable evidence that prisoners were involved in 9/11, then by all means they should be prosecuted. But if there is no evidence, the U.S. should let them go and apologize for robbing them of their family, country and time.
Ibrahim Habib
Mount Prospect, Illinois, U.S.
The last sentence of your otherwise admirable investigative cover story on the shame of Guantánamo clearly rationalizes torture: "Then again, in the war on terrorism, the personal dignity of a fanatic trained for mass murder may be an inevitable casualty." What has happened to the America of my youth?
David Wasserman
Rognes, France
Your story only confirms what we have known all along: that the U.S., in its blissful arrogance, does not respect world opinion on any issue. Whether it is environmental concerns or human rights, America wipes its feet on the rest of the world. Clear violations of all norms and conventions, holding people without judicial process — you name it, the U.S. has done it. What right do Americans have to preach liberty and freedom to the rest of the world?
Ramji Abinashi
Amersham, England
The story on the interrogation log of Detainee 063 was one of the most sickening reports that I have ever read. While I give a thumbs-up to the authors, I give a thumbs-down to the Bush Administration for the deplorable stain that is spreading further on what is left of the U.S. 's credibility. I do not know how the Secretary of State, the President and his entourage can think about their overpreached principles of democracy without blushing.
Alex Crotta
Montalto Dora, Italy
Securing the Reactors
Re "Are These Towers Safe?" [June 20]: Nuclear power plants are the most heavily defended elements of our civilian infrastructure. Their defenses — at the direction of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (nrc) and with a cost of roughly $1 billion to the industry — have been upgraded significantly several times since Sept. 11, 2001. The article unfortunately relies heavily on opinions that do not present an accurate picture of current plant defenses and strategies. The nrc has worked closely with law-enforcement and security agencies at all levels of government to develop protective measures and an integrated response. Time's story cited an out-of-date study conducted for other purposes that does not reflect present knowledge of nuclear-plant capabilities and accident scenarios. The American people should know that these plants are well protected with multiple layers of defense to ensure safety and security. This agency vigorously monitors plant security to ensure that our homeland is well protected.
Nils J. Diaz, Chairman
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Rockville, Maryland, U.S.
Lives in Limbo
I read the story about Nigerian refugees [June 20] with mixed feelings. Nigeria faces numerous problems, but some of its emigrants just reinforce the myth that we are a nation of scam artists. Can a family that lives in a slum in Lagos afford air travel to Ireland? Nigeria 's debt prevents it from spending money on social programs and infrastructure that could help reduce poverty and corruption. What can the West do? Developed countries like Ireland should proactively focus on bettering the lives of would-be immigrants in their home countries. Debt relief is a good place to start. Westerners enjoy freedoms and privileges that are alien to Africans. It is time for the West to start exporting those benefits to the less fortunate.
Lulufa Kundul Vongtau
Lagos, Nigeria