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How's Obama Doin'?

In his first 100 days, President Barack Obama has had to address such issues as torture, pirates, increasing unemployment, trouble in the Big Three car companies and corruption on Wall Street [May 4]. And yet for the first time in a long while, I have seen Americans begin to have hope for a stronger America. Congratulations, Mr. President, for giving Americans something they were seeking and sorely lacking. Anthony P. Johnson, PHILADELPHIA

President Obama aptly characterized the current recession recently as one caused by a "perfect storm of irresponsibility and poor decision-making that stretched from Wall Street to Washington to Main Street." Yet the Obama phenomenon could be brewing a more perfect storm, wherein an F.D.R.-L.B.J.--style government would promote intrusions that could inflict great social, political and economic devastation on us. Daniel B. Jeffs, APPLE VALLEY, CALIF.

Thank you for the wonderful photos of Obama and our First Family. I could not wait for my issue to arrive. Arlene M. Naulty, MELBOURNE, FLA.

Torture and Intelligence

Re "Dumb Intelligence," [May 4]: Robert Baer thinks "persuasion" is far more effective than torture. I don't pretend to understand the merits of techniques for extracting intelligence from prisoners. But as a veteran, I believe that al-Qaeda operatives are not garden-variety prisoners who would respond to persuasion; they have proved to be hate-filled extremists who place no value on human life. I don't like torture either, but if it proves to obtain information that puts a stop to future bloodshed--as it has, according to experts--then I say please resume. John Stern, GRAND HAVEN, MICH.

I don't doubt that at least in some cases torture did save lives. In the meantime, how many tens of thousands of Muslims have been radicalized against the U.S. because of Abu Ghraib and reports of other instances of our use of torture? Some of those newly radicalized may be plotting more 9/11s. And many have already killed large numbers of Americans in Iraq and Afghanistan in suicide bombings, guerrilla warfare and other attacks. Geoff Pietsch, GAINESVILLE, FLA.

At the end of World War II, Germans trekked west to surrender to Americans rather than to Russians, believing they would be treated humanely. Instead of torturing them, we offered them the Marshall Plan, a shining moment in U.S. history. I hate to see the honor of those valiant Americans squandered in CIA torture chambers. Mike Burch, NASHVILLE

Tough and in a Huff

Denseness seems to be the byword for Texas politicians [May 4]. Since Governor Rick Perry has obviously not seen the latest polls showing that Americans are by and large pleased with our President and new direction, he can take his state--and the ex-President who got us into this mess in the first place--and run with it. Arlyne Euler, THOMPSON'S STATION, TENN.

In "Texas Tantrum," Nancy Gibbs failed to mention that for 10 years Texas was a country--which successfully fought for independence from Mexico in 1836--before choosing to join the U.S. Do not compare Texas to Vermont, Hawaii and California. Mike Gallagher, HOUSTON

Your article made Texas out to be an unpatriotic state, and that is not true. I can see why it was the very last article in the magazine. Bless your heart. RuthAnn Jackson, WYLIE, TEXAS