Treatment of Prisoners

Re “Source of Terror Suspect Photos Sought,” Nov. 9: I would like to thank whoever leaked the photo of the suspected Al Qaeda prisoners on their flight to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and The Times for printing it, if only on A20. I can understand that the prisoners would need to be restrained, but I fail to understand why they were not seated in proper chairs, or at least leaning against the side of the plane, and were instead barely supported by ropes around their chests and backs. I also fail to understand why their heads were covered, inside an empty cargo plane, for a flight halfway around the world. This was cruel, uncivilized and unbecoming the richest and most powerful country in the world.

Carol May

Los Angeles