Mukasey’s stance was predictable

Re “Democrats decry Mukasey’s waterboarding silence,” Jan. 31

Did Democrats really expect candor from Atty. Gen. Michael B. Mukasey? Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) showed that Democrats were complicit, not merely spineless. They knew what would happen. The executive branch needs oversight, and Article I of the Constitution gives Congress the authority to make rules for prisoners. At the least, there should be full disclosure to Congress regarding our techniques, and Congress should decide what is acceptable. Under the current atmosphere of congressional complicity, I believe the public also has a right to know how our government represents us.

It is clear that waterboarding is torture under international law, and should be under U.S. law. Mukasey’s failure to cooperate, while predictable, is disturbing. However, it does aid President Bush’s policy of fighting terrorism by creating terrorism.

Michael Goldman

Woodland Hills

--

Feinstein had a pivotal vote on the Senate Judiciary Committee that favored Mukasey for confirmation. At the time, Feinstein said: “I do believe he will be a truly nonpolitical, nonpartisan attorney general; that he will make his views very clear; and that, once he has the opportunity to do the evaluation he believes he needs on waterboarding, he will be willing to come before the Judiciary Committee and express his views comprehensively and definitively.”

Because of Feinstein, we have another attorney general who supports torture. Feinstein has proved herself unfit to represent us.

George Dobosh

Sierra Madre