LETTERS

Re “A verbal duel for hearts and minds,” May 22

On Page 1, above the fold, you give equal time, graphics and text to President Obama and to former Vice President Dick Cheney.

Do you really think Cheney deserves equal recognition and should be cast in equivalent moral combat with Obama, who was elected president after eight years of Cheney’s and President Bush’s unqualified leadership? You are making artificial news.

Richard Partlow

Altadena

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Obama admits we are at war with Al Qaeda terrorists and their affiliates. Our Constitution has a provision for declaring war. We should treat these people as POWs, house them in a POW camp until the war is over and try any of them who committed war crimes as war criminals. We play a game of semantics calling these people criminals, and doing so gives Al Qaeda and the Taliban a perfect recruiting tool.

Few people would object to holding POWs until the war is over -- as we’ve done in every past declared war.

Keith Ensminger

Merced

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Who are these guys at Guantanamo? Do they possess dark magical powers? Are they actual monsters?

I just don’t understand how a system of justice got hijacked by 19 idiots with box-cutters. Before 9/11, our system of justice was large enough to try, and convict, such human monsters as war criminals, serial killers and the first World Trade Center bombers. But now it just isn’t big enough or strong enough to try the men being held at Gitmo.

Gary Tieche

Los Angeles

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Obama and Cheney have laid out their arguments on the use of “enhanced interrogation techniques.”

Both renewed their commitments to keeping America safe but made it clear they thought each other’s strategy would have the opposite effect.

But who is right? Ask one question: Is it acceptable for a captured American solder to undergo the same enhanced interrogation techniques?

Charles Gerhard

San Marcos

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I say, go Obama: Close Guantanamo -- it has given the U.S. a black eye around the world for long enough.

And what is this about the detainees were being held there because it was offshore -- as though it’s not “America.” The American flag flies there, doesn’t it?

No more pretending that everything the U.S. does is right. The last eight years were torture enough.

Phil Wilt

Van Nuys

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Obama is a great public speaker. He is quite the contrast over the last president. However, judge this new president by his deeds, not by his words.

Thus far, he has spent more in four months than his predecessor spent in eight years.

He has decided to maintain the military commissions and withhold the release of interrogation photos. He says he intends to close Guantanamo, but he knows Congress will never allow it.

Obama really does appear to be the best thing that has happened to Bush.

Mark M. Williams

Pasadena

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As vice president, Cheney stressed the importance of loyalty to our commander in chief during wartime.

We are still at war. We have a new commander in chief. And yet Cheney’s speech seemed to undermine the authority of the new commander.

I wonder why he doesn’t choose to retire? He had his turn as leader; he spent 30 years-plus in government. I wonder why he protests so much?

Jean M. Kerins

Escondido

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As a campaigner, Obama won the hearts and minds of many of us because he radiated an aura of common humanity we hungered for.

He spoke decisively of closing Guantanamo, and of negotiating with those whose worldview is different.

But now we see what appears to be the awful consequences of politics inside the Beltway.

How is it that a leader as clearly bright and compassionate as Obama can continue such abhorrent policies in our now very small world?

Lee Frank

Sherman Oaks

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There is an obvious place to put the inmates. It is a little used ranch in Texas that is used to a lot of security. It’s right there in Crawford.

Paul Taylor

North Hollywood