Letters: Torture’s toll

Re “Free the CIA torture report,” Editorial, Dec. 20

I strongly support the prompt release of the Senate Intelligence Committee report detailing CIA “dark side” practices following the 9/11 attacks. I hope Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and her colleagues will vote for release at the earliest possible time.

As your editorial correctly puts it, it is essential for the American people to learn why and how our country lost its moral bearings and resorted to the kinds of practices we deplore when other countries use them.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), himself a torture victim, has called for the release of this report. I pray the Obama administration will not seek to block full disclosure of the report’s findings on the dubious grounds of state secrecy. As we know from history, nations that seek to keep state secrets are invariably the ones that have shameful acts to hide.

Peter Laarman

Los Angeles

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