Letters to the Editor - AJC

Rule of law should come before loyalty

Republican defense of presidential crimes hasn't changed in 30 years.

Charles Colson, Pat Buchanan et al. are more interested in W. Mark Felt's "loyalty" than in upholding the rule of law. Felt exposed Nixon's crimes. The others helped cover up illegal wiretaps, blackmail, obstruction of justice and abuse of the FBI, CIA and IRS. President Bush et al. are no different --- they lied about weapons of mass destruction in order to defend a pre-emptive war of aggression, slandered those who told the truth and trampled on due process to hide torture and murder.

Where are the righteous Republican prosecutors of Whitewater, Travelgate and sexual perjury when the real crimes are committed?

FRANK RUECHEL, Kennesaw

Nation needs an informant against Bush

Charles Colson's saying that W. Mark Felt betrayed the trust of America's leaders is remarkable. The Watergate scandal was the biggest betrayal of the trust of the American people to date.

We can only hope that a new "Deep Throat" will come forward with the truth about President Bush's campaign to get us into the war with Iraq. The recently leaked British memo makes it clear that we have been betrayed again.

JOHN M. NARDO, Jasper

Reed's explanations impossible to believe

Ralph Reed's ever-changing explanations of his role in "Casinogate" defy the most generous definitions of logic ("Anti-gaming funds tribe gave Reed hard to trail," Page One, May 31).

He has gone from, "I did not know the money came from the Choctaws" to "I knew it came from the Choctaws but I did not know they operated casinos" to "I knew they operated casinos but the money did not come from their casino profits." This is like saying, "I knew the money came from the mob, and I know they make a lot of money on gambling, drugs and prostitution, but I was assured the money came from their olive oil business."

"Casino Ralph" has been exposed for what he is: a Washington lobbyist who, for the almighty dollar, cynically exploits his control over Christian conservatives. If Reed believes this description is unfair, there is a way for him to prove me wrong: Give the money back.

KIRK DORNBUSH, Atlanta

(Ralph Reed is running for Lt. Governor in Georgia - god help us--JFA)

Bush should probe allegations of abuse

To respond to allegations of abuse at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp by simply calling them "absurd" is not the stand I want my government to take ("Bush 'optimistic' he'll secure agenda," Page One, June 1).

Amnesty International, the Red Cross and the media have reported repeatedly about U.S. human rights violations that are counter to everything our justice system stands for. Merely removing prisoners from U.S. soil shouldn't exempt them from the rights --- or freedom from abuse --- that our country believes in.

If there's nothing to hide, then pledge to investigate and hold those responsible accountable. Don't "disassemble" the facts --- give them to us in their entirety.

SARA REAMS, Fayetteville