Top Officials Are Allergic to Newsprint

President Bush doesn’t read the newspaper. And now, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld? During a surprise visit to Iraq, Rumsfeld announced that he no longer read newspapers (May 14). I find this comment particularly disturbing following the revelations of torture at Abu Ghraib prison, brought to the world’s attention by, you guessed it, the free press. The news of late isn’t pretty, and perhaps it lowers morale, but our leaders and the men and women of our armed forces burying their heads in the sand is what led to these atrocities.

I am ashamed of the president’s and Rumsfeld’s abdication of an important civic duty and the message it sends to our troops, our children and the world. How can Bush and Rumsfeld ask our troops to give their lives for Iraqi freedom and, in the same breath, tacitly encourage them to give up an important part of their own?

Matthew Gordon

Los Angeles

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Re “Extra! Read Nothing About It,” Commentary, May 14: If William Powers is upset that Rumsfeld doesn’t read the newspaper, perhaps he should consider these points: Rumsfeld has access to more facts than reporters, so why would he want to read something from an individual who is not in the know and who probably has an agenda of his or her own?

The purpose of newspapers, contrary to what reporters like to think, is to sell advertising. That is why you can get the Los Angeles Times for about $3 a week. The editors know the value of their news. Maybe when newspapers begin to go back to some degree of objectivity, readership will pick up. Get off your high horse, Mr. Powers, and criticize those who create the problem, the editors and reporters.

Barry J. Klazura

Long Beach

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When Rumsfeld declared he had stopped reading newspapers, our troops gave their biggest cheer. This had to be music to the ears of an administration that likes to keep the public uninformed and misinformed. The founding fathers would not be cheering. They knew that without an informed public, democracy dies.

David A. Baird

Los Angeles

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I long for the days when all we could talk about was a woman’s bare breast on TV.

Michael Figueroa

Glendale

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Re “To Help Restore U.S. Standing, Rumsfeld Must Take the Fall,” Commentary, May 13: Max Boot calls for the dismissal of Rumsfeld to restore American credibility in the face of the systematic torment we have inflicted on prisoners in Iraq. He refers to Rumsfeld as “the man in command of the U.S. military.” I may not be an expert, but I do know that the president, not his appointee, is the commander of the armed forces and, I agree, he must go. Come November, this country needs to relieve this grossly incompetent, warmongering administration of its duties. That is the only course that will begin to restore any faith the world may have once had in the American people. Clearly, the credibility of our government will take a great deal longer.

D.M. Evans

San Clemente

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Despite the preponderance of anti-Bush and anti-Iraq war letters and articles that you print, the average American really doesn’t care if Iraqi prisoners were humiliated or intimidated. These are Islamo-terrorists and Islamo-fascists who are killing our GIs with roadside bombs, rocket-propelled grenades, suicide bombers and car bombs. We don’t care about their humiliation.

The average American was and is supportive of this war to remove the Saddam Hussein regime, verify the presence or absence of weapons of mass destruction and raze any terrorist havens. If we can help provide Iraq with some kind of stable, interim government, great. Democracy or Islamic republic -- let them decide, however they want. But let’s leave as soon as we have completely addressed the immediate issues concerning our self-interest.

Mike Bennett

Rowland Heights

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Those in the Bush administration got it half right when they flew Rumsfeld to the Abu Ghraib prison. They let the ball drop, though, when they didn’t lock him in one of the cells and charge him with crimes against humanity. Perhaps they need to learn the definition of the word “humanity” first.

Jeffrey M. Bagley

Los Angeles

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Regarding the U.S. intention to establish democracy in Iraq, have I missed something? Should not the toppling of the Hussein statue have been accompanied by the razing of the infamous Abu Ghraib prison?

Norma S. Munger

San Pedro