Abu Ghraib Under Hussein, Under the U.S.

Re “Within the Horror,” Opinion, May 23: Frank Smyth described the agony of screams and suffering he heard and the few horrific scenes he observed while in custody at Saddam Hussein’s Abu Ghraib prison in 1991. He concludes by comparing the unfortunate abuse and mistreatment perpetrated by a handful of U.S. troops with the systematic physical infliction of pain, maiming, dismemberment and rape that were routine during Saddam’s era.

Certainly, most Americans are shocked that our military would tolerate such unacceptable behavior, and we are rightfully upset about it. However, to compare it to the inhumane atrocities committed by Saddam is irrational and undeserved. The U.S. has apologized, from the very top, and those who were guilty of the misconduct will be punished. It should also be made clear that such behavior is not to be repeated. Now, we need to move on. Enough outrage is enough.

Aggie Hoffman

Los Angeles

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Smyth’s conclusion is unfortunately the same conclusion my friend and neighbor came to when I asked him to explain his reasoning for marrying his German, Catholic wife after having suffered years of deprivation and torture in Nazi concentration camps. He answered me by asking: “Do you think Germans did this to the Jews?” He then answered his own question, stating: “People did this to people.”

Laura Jaoui

Claremont

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One of the more horrifying aspects of the scandal in Abu Ghraib is that many of the prisoners there were ordinary Iraqis, going about their daily lives, who were guilty of nothing more than being in the wrong place at the wrong time. By picturing a pampered detainee wearing a “Death to America” T-shirt, Michael Ramirez (editorial cartoon, Commentary, May 22) stereotypes and dehumanizes the victims of torture, who in reality are people like us.

William F. Foote

Los Angeles

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Shame, shame on Ramirez. We forsake our moral high ground and belief in the rule of law when we make light of the tortures that happened at Abu Ghraib.

Donald S. Levin

Westlake Village

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Your May 22 story about the release of 454 Iraqi prisoners from Abu Ghraib prison left many questions unanswered. Were these people ever charged with anything? Were they ever brought in front of any kind of court? How long were they held? Were they civilians, soldiers or members of the Republican Guard? Indeed, if they were released, does it mean they never should have been arrested in the first place? How many of these innocent people were tortured (I mean, “aggressively questioned”)?

Unfortunately, with the U.S. government’s new policy of militant secrecy rather than open democracy, I fear these questions will never be answered.

John Slevin

Huntington Beach