LETTERS

Inside the Wire at Gitmo

Our report on the interrogation log of detainee Mohammed al-Qahtani was criticized by readers who think that U.S. forces treat suspected terrorists better than they ought to expect. Other readers were alarmed by the government's departure from the rule of law and respect for human rights

"A detainee may be stripped of his human dignity, but abusive interrogations dehumanize the interrogators as well."

DEB SLATER -- Yellow Springs, Ohio

"Iinside the interrogation Detainee 063" [June 20] showed the prison camp at the U.S. naval station at Guantanamo Bay to be a prime example of the hypocrisy that shrouds the U.S. By indefinitely detaining "enemy combatants" without availing them of legal defense, we show the world that the lives of non-Americans are unimportant to us. That is not a great way to spread democracy. If there is indisputable evidence that prisoners were involved in 9/11, then by all means, they should be prosecuted. But if there is no evidence, the U.S. should let them go and apologize for robbing them of their family, country and time.

IBRAHIM HABIB -- Mount Prospect, Ill.

Although I have always felt that President George W. Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld are bad for the U.S. and the world, your article actually made me feel a bit of respect for some of their policies. The interrogation you described involved only disrespect to Mohammed al-Qahtani's personal dignity. That man is not an innocent Iraqi being dragged around Abu Ghraib on a leash. He is suspected of being the so-called 20th hijacker on Sept. 11, 2001. If he had had his way, United Airlines Flight 93 would have plummeted into the White House or the Capitol. If your article was intended to show the U.S.'s abuse of power, you picked the wrong case study. The U.S. has demonstrated incredible restraint with that terrorist.

JASON YELOWITZ -- Incline Village, Nev.

Are we really expected to believe that treating a detainee like a dog, depriving him of sleep and making him dance with a box over his head are going to lead to credible intelligence? I bet that most people, if treated in such a perverse manner for a prolonged period of time, would tell their interrogators what they wanted to hear. I find it significant that when Detainee 063 finally confessed to al-Qaeda involvement, he stated he was doing it "to get out of here." The interrogation techniques currently used by the U.S. on suspected terrorists appear unethical and outrageous and will only garner us more enemies.

ROYA FOULADI -- Santa Ana, Calif.

Detainee 063 was never physically harmed. He put his health in peril with his refusal to eat and take fluids. His treatment should be put in the proper context. Prisoners at Guantanamo are fed meals that accord with their religious beliefs, they are given Korans and prayer rugs, and their health is monitored. Torture camp? Sounds more like a resort to me!

RON SPENCER -- Raleigh, N.C.

The most disturbing statement in the story is at the end--"in the war on terrorism, the personal dignity of a fanatic trained for mass murder may be an inevitable casualty." Actually, it is the rule of law, and all the values Americans hold dear, that is the casualty of crude illogic like that. Who says al-Qahtani is a terrorist or a fanatic bent on mass murder? He has never been charged with or tried for any crime. He is legally innocent until proved guilty. Anyone who scoffs at that does not take seriously bedrock constitutional principles.

BRYAN H. WILDENTHAL -- ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR -- THOMAS JEFFERSON SCHOOL OF LAW -- San Diego

Securing the Reactors

Re "Are These Towers Safe?" [June 20]: Nuclear power plants are the most heavily defended elements of our civilian infrastructure. Their defenses--at the direction of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and with a cost of roughly $1 billion to the industry--have been upgraded significantly several times since Sept. 11, 2001. The article unfortunately relies heavily on opinions that do not present an accurate picture of current plant defenses and strategies. The NRC has worked closely with law-enforcement and security agencies at all levels of government to develop protective measures and an integrated response. TIME's story cited an out-of-date study conducted for other purposes that does not reflect present knowledge of nuclear-plant capabilities and accident scenarios. The American people should know that these plants are well protected with multiple layers of defense to ensure safety and security. This agency vigorously monitors plant security to ensure that our homeland is well protected.

NILS J. DIAZ, CHAIRMAN -- U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION -- Rockville, Md.

A Tough Sell

Columnist Joe Klein noted that President Bush has changed his emphasis from semiprivatization of Social Security to the solvency of the system [June 20]. But that is only because the Democrats have consistently pointed out that solvency is the real issue. Although the President has confounded the rest of the populace with his smoke-and-mirrors show on a range of other issues, Americans have so far refused to be misled on Social Security.

LEIGH HEBBARD -- Wilson, N.C.

Trademark Illustration

We were surprised to see that the cover of your June 27, 2005, issue used a reproduction of our historic and highly recognizable registered trademark, the Louis Vuitton Monogram Pattern, without our knowledge or permission. Such use is likely to lead your readers to the mistaken impression that you are authorized to do so or that Louis Vuitton Malletier was involved in some way in its publication. The use of the monogram presents the potential for significant dilution of one of our core intellectual property rights and is all the more of concern since it also appears on your website. Importantly, this use of our trademark in connection with an iconic Chinese figure [Chairman Mao] could damage the long-established relationship we have carefully built with China and its people since the opening in 1992 of the first Louis Vuitton store in Beijing.

YVES CARCELLE, PRESIDENT -- LOUIS VUITTON MALLETIER -- Paris

The use of the Louis Vuitton pattern was done for illustrative purposes only and was an editorial decision made independently, without cooperation of the Louis Vuitton company.