With prisoner abuse we can get very different responses
Letters to the Editor
Published January 18, 2005
On Jan. 14, Army Reserve Spc. Charles Graner was convicted on five counts of abusing prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. On Jan. 15, Spc. Graner was sentenced to 10 years in prison, loss of rank and a dishonorable discharge. The offenses committed by Spc. Graner are prohibited by the Geneva Conventions. In Washington, White House counsel Alberto Gonzales had issued a memo stating the Geneva Conventions were "quaint" and not applicable to today's war on terror. Recently the president nominated Gonzales for the position of attorney general, the highest legal officer in the country.
While Spc. Graner will spend the next 10 years in prison, senators on both sides of the aisle have indicated Gonzales will most likely be confirmed as attorney general.
The man who committed the abuses goes to prison and the man who issued cover for the abuses is offered a promotion. Go figure!
-- Neil Hilmer, Weeki Wachee
An unlikely ringleader
Re: Guard's sentence: 10 Years, Jan 16.
After reading Sunday's headline story, I was questioning the idea that this low-level Reserve specialist, Charles Graner, could be classified as being the "ringleader" of the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison. It is difficult for me to believe that he acted on his own and without any supervision or urging from some higher-ranking superior officers. I doubt very much that it would work that way!
I only hope that this abuse scandal will not be a typical military coverup (like some in Vietnam). I'm trusting a lot more investigation will take place to discover how high up the ladder this permission to abuse and torture prisoners was approved.
-- Glenn A. Paul, Indian Rocks Beach
No way to be right
Re: Abu Ghraib prison guard convicted, Jan. 15.
I really do not think a general or someone of that level would be disciplined, whether or not Reserve Spc. Charles Graner Jr. was ordered to do it.
Let that be a lesson for anyone even thinking about enlisting. You will be put on trial if you follow orders and put on trial if you do not follow orders.
-- Patsy Cook, New Port Richey
Political thuggery
Re: No evidence of criminal conduct in Plame case, Jan. 13.
If the authors of this piece are correct, then the Bush administration source who leaked - er, excuse me "confirmed the cocktail gossip" - to Robert Novak that Valerie Plame was a CIA agent, should come out in public and shout, "It was me!" because he or she has nothing to fear. In fact, the Bush administration source should call the authors and ask for them to represent him or her pro bono after going public because nobody did anything wrong.
Anyone betting that will happen? Doesn't the source's insistence on anonymity tell us anything? This was political thuggery in response to Ambassador Joseph Wilson's daring to tell the truth in public. You can't refute the truth so you fight back under the table. Whether it's criminal or not, the payback against his wife is shameful no matter what color you vote, blue or red. And Novak should have slammed down the phone instead of agreeing to be the payback broker.
-- Charles W. Gerdes, St. Petersburg
Titan vs. the terrier
Re: Craft lands on moon of Saturn, Jan. 15.
Mankind successfully lands a probe on Saturn's moon Titan after a seven-year and 900-million mile journey, facilitated by an international team of scientists, and a photograph of a world never before seen by human eyes only warrants a 2-by 3-inch photo on Page 16?
Meanwhile, a dog jumping from one hotel bed to another is front-page news, worthy of a large photograph. While understandably there are front-page stories concerning such serious and newsworthy issues as the recent Asian tsunami or the war for which our brave soldiers are serving in Iraq, to relegate the majority of the Huygens probe story to the back page in favor of a terrier's bed-jumping is, frankly, sadly disappointing. Let's get with the program.
-- John C. Carter, St. Petersburg
A pooch out of place
Re: Loosening up for the competition, Jan. 15.
The picture on the front page of Saturday's St. Petersburg Times convinced me that I will never be staying at Wyndham Harbour Island Hotel. I would never spend my money to stay where dogs are allowed on the beds. I can appreciate animals, but they do have their place.
-- Karen Gordon, St. Petersburg
Don't forget homeless dogs
I wish the media would spotlight the plight of homeless dogs with the same attention awarded a dog show. If you have ever volunteered in a shelter, you would see many of the breeds seen at a dog show. People give them up when they are not useful anymore.
How sad it is that human beings continue to breed dogs while millions are wandering and dying on our streets. Too many are euthanized at every shelter and animal control facility.
I am sorry if a dog show seems frivolous. Our community needs to accept the overwhelming responsibility of animals who were bred and tossed aside. There is no ribbon for being alone, sick and homeless.
-- Louise Kahle, St. Petersburg
An unfair generalization
Re: A generation that's not so great, letter,Jan. 10.
I take exception to the comments made in this letter regarding high school students and their lack of respect and horrible behavior. The letter writer says he is an employee of the Pinellas County School Board and has witnessed the lack of respect shown by this particular generation. He is unfairly generalizing an entire demographic.
My son is a junior at Seminole High School, and I could walk into that school right now and choose several of "tomorrow's leaders" without reservation. I have watched many of these children grow up to be impressive young adults, and I am proud of them.
Respect is a tricky thing. It is not a given; it must be earned. By saying this teenage generation is "anything but the greatest" just perpetuates the stereotype and squashes hope.
Parents need to be involved in their children's lives, but there are parents who are not equipped to handle this challenge. Does this mean that their children are left to their own devices? It means other responsible adults must take the initiative to lead by example. I would like to think that instead of complaining, the letter writer might try to be part of the solution instead of the problem. Do something instead of complaining about it.
This generation has every chance to be "the greatest." Please don't undermine them. Go Warhawks!
-- Linda Flack, Seminole
[Last modified January 18, 2005, 01:50:17]
