A guardian or a tyrant?

Re “Watching the watchers,” editorial, Aug. 21

Surprise! Of all appeal courts, it’s a three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that voiced skepticism about the Bush administration’s contention that two pending lawsuits -- one involving an Islamic charity and the other, AT&T; customers -- might reveal state secrets in the war against terrorism. If there should be another terrorist strike, exponentially more devastating than 9/11, during the remaining months of the Bush administration, Democrats and the liberal media will be crying for another commission -- to determine exactly why all the dots were not connected to prevent this even deadlier disaster.

William H. Smith

Palm Desert

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Why is President Bush so determined to give himself the powers of a dictator to “protect” us from terrorism? Why does a democracy like the United States need to become a police state to fight terrorism?

Carlos Khantzis

Woodland Hills