George,

You've no doubt read that the Philadelphia Inquirer has signed John Yoo on as a columnist. Andrew Sullivan posted a link to this columnist at the Inquirer, and I've just sent the following letter. Perhaps others of your readers might like to do the same?

Katherine McNamara (Electronic mail, May 13, 2009)

Dear Editor:

 

I read with amazement that you have engaged John Yoo, an author of the morally appalling — and, I understand, legally weak — torture memos. I cannot imagine why you would have done this. The Second Amendment is not at issue, nor is the false notion that we have “a difference of opinion” about torture, its legality, and its morality. What can this man possibly say now that anyone would want to read, and that you would be willing to support, except a profound confession and an impossible attempt to make restitution. By his written acts, he has damaged our country — and, I fear, our Constitution — by acceding to the desire on the part of Cheney (more likely) and Bush (semi-ignorantly?) to advance their war. John Yoo enabled these men to authorize America to become a nation that tortures, and he is rightly called a war criminal.

 

I hope you will change your mind about this. It is far, far worse than the New York Times’ support of Judith Miller’s duplicitous reporting.

 

With regards,
Katherine McNamara