Editor:

The critics of Dick Cheney should be on their knees in thanksgiving that George Bush and Dick Cheney, instead of Al Gore, were leading our country at the time of 9-11. There is ample evidence that we would have been facing more attacks without the knowledge gained from the captives.

How is it that we sanction the death penalty after a death but become so paranoid about causing some discomfort in an effort to prevent one or more deaths? Abuse and torture in many forms are tolerated in our society and are ignored or overlooked. People in prisons are subject to many forms of torture, women are raped and children are mistreated and the legal system can minimize these happenings, but let the military use some painful methods on a terrorist and everyone gets excited. Is there anyone who would not trade the life of one of those prisoners for the passengers on one of the airplanes?

It is very ironic that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who convinced the terrorists to participate in the suicide missions with the goal of reaching paradise, is so afraid of death that he would not welcome drowning to join them in paradise. He did not have the guts to follow through. Could it be that he does not believe what he was telling his followers?

Are we really so concerned about our reputation with other countries who are so lacking in courage, that we will not make every effort to protect our own citizens?

The world is full of bullies who delight in inflicting pain on others but cannot withstand similar treatment. These people often do not respond to polite inquiries about their activities so we choose to let them go rather than make them uncomfortable. Ideally, in our society, there is no excuse for criminal activity but it does exist and criminals should lose their rights to humane treatment to the extent that they abuse other people. There is a definite difference between torture for punishment and making a person uncomfortable to obtain information.

DON THORSON, Newcastle