Letters: Oct. 30, 2006

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GIGI KING Oro Valley, Ariz.

Compromised Standards

I am ashamed of our Congress for adopting legislation that allows coerced testimony to be used as evidence in trials of terrorism suspects [Oct. 9]. President George W. Bush can sugarcoat the inhumane methods of interrogation all he wants, but there are moral standards that we Americans uphold. If the President is really a Christian, I don't understand how he can request such a bill and use political pressure to force it through Congress over the objections of moral and knowledgeable opponents. We suffered a great loss of life and property on 9/11, but the attackers damage us far more by inciting us to compromise our standards to match theirs. The bill is not an act of courage, strength and resolve. It is an act of fear and desperation.

CRAIG LITTLEFIELD Tucson, Ariz.

Terrorists have no rights to habeas corpus or protections under the Geneva Conventions. They are not members of opposing armies; they are people who have no respect for human life. The courts need to stay out of the war on terrorism and let President Bush do the job he was elected to do. If the people of the U.S. want terrorism to thrive and terrorists to have the same rights as our soldiers, let them make that decision when they vote for the next President.

LORI B. GODINES El Paso, Texas

Lost Youth, Lasting Legacy

"Death Comes Calling For The Class of 9/11" [Oct. 9], on the death in Iraq of U.S. Army 2nd Lieut. Emily Perez, 23, was a touching story of an exceptional West Point graduate who accomplished much in her short lifetime. Seeing the picture of her so proud in uniform and reading the praise heaped upon her by fellow cadets, I grasped the tragedy of her passing. I would like her parents to know they are not alone in their mourning. I only hope this war is worth the sacrifices young people like Perez are making.

JOE SALLEROLI Franklin Lakes, N.J.

This story explained more to my wife about who I am than did my 30 years of trying. Service members have faith in the core values of the military: duty, loyalty, honor, selflessness and courage. That faith sustains them as they answer the call to do what must be done. They also have faith that no casualties are meaningless, wasted or ignored. Perez's sacrifice and commitment did not go unnoticed by her comrades-in-arms.

KEVIN M. MCNABB LIEUT. COLONEL, U.S. ARMY BROOKE ARMY MEDICAL CENTER Fort Sam Houston, Texas

Tears welled up in my eyes before I could finish reading about Perez. Where do we get such dedicated young people to serve us without reservation? A life so special should not have ended in a far-off land away from family and friends. From the beginning of this tragic war, I have maintained that we had no right to be in Iraq. There is nothing there to warrant the sacrifice of our finest young people. Not oil, not the Iraqis and not the unlikely hope of spreading democracy. It is time to bring our finest home.

WALT WIETGREFE Ithaca, N.Y.

Blind Faith