Letter to Jim Wooten, AJC

As Associate Editorial Page Editor I have to assume that you read the articles that are placed on the editorial page and are aware of the content of the article in Sundays' edition entitled 'Torture below U. S. moral code".

The subject of this article is one that has bothered me for some time.

During the time I was in North Africa, France and Germany during WW II I felt a degree of comfort in my belief that if I were captured I would be treated humanely and returned safely home after the war was over. The Geneva Conventions and the manner in which we treated prisoners of war were assurances to me that this was true. Fortunately I was never a prisoner and was discharged safely.

Mr. Wooten, you can help me a great deal by answering a few questions for me:

1.Do you believe that " Torture is below U. S. moral code"?

2. Do you agree with Senator McCain's statement "We hold ourselves to humane standards of treatment of people no matter how evil or terrible they may be."

3. Do you agree with General Sandkuhler's statement that a consequence of our present policy of mistreating prisoners exposes our troops to domestic and international prosecution, harming discipline and self respect among those in uniform, reducing public support for U S efforts here at home and around the globe, and exposing U S Service members to greater danger should they become POWs themselves.

4. Do you agree with the article's statement "We have seen the reputation of the U S Military smeared around the world, and our nation's moral standing as a champion of human rights greatly diminished"?

Thanks, Jeremiah