Questions of war and responsibility

Re “Changes to War Crimes Act Sought,” Aug. 10

The Bush administration is again attempting to abandon the principles of fairness, decency and responsibility by immunizing its members from prosecution for past crimes with its amendments to the War Crimes Act.

The real shame is that such an abandonment of principles by the Bush administration is so common that it only warrants mention on Page A21 of The Times.

TOM HAZELLEAF

Seal Beach

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So, the Bush administration is trying to insulate policymakers under the War Crimes Act by drafting amendments that would retroactively protect them from criminal charges for possibly authorizing humiliating or degrading treatment of detainees.

The American people and the World Court have told the administration time and time again, torture is illegal and utterly reprehensible. To excuse it supposedly for the sake of democracy is an insult to the integrity of the free world.

I say to the Bush administration: Do the crime, pay the fine (or perhaps, serve the time).

RICK CONRAD

Oxnard

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Re “Witnesses Tell of Troop Stress Before Attack,” Aug. 9

I don’t know what to be more furious about: American soldiers who allegedly rape and murder and then blame it on not having a hot meal in several weeks, or our leadership that allows soldiers to be so poorly supplied. What is our $300 billion being spent on? Where is our leadership? And where do such awful representatives of the American people come from?

E.R. WYTRYKUS

Sierra Madre

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I believe that for the vast majority of us who have served in wars, the actions of these accused are among the most sickening. This is not a matter of lack of training, it is a matter of lack of humanity.

MARTIN WAUSON

Westminster