Readers write

Responses to Porter J. Goss’ column on torture, ” ‘Amnesia’ over CIA’s actions puts politics before security.” @issue, April 28

Circumstances don’t excuse illegal actions on CIA’s part

In his guest column , Porter J. Goss states that a disturbing epidemic of amnesia is plaguing his former congressional colleagues. His argument is that congressional leaders were fully briefed secretly about enhanced interrogation techniques and therefore should not complain. The fact of the matter is that nobody raised any questions because the government assured them that this was all legal. Now we know that the CIA engaged in some illegal actions. Not only that, the CIA even destroyed some tapes, according to one report. We are a country of laws, and Goss is remiss when he says that we ought to ignore laws simply because of the horrible tragedy that happened on 9/11. Nobody is objecting to tough interrogations that are crucial to keep the country safe. But the point is that it must be legal. If we could prosecute Japanese generals who subjected Allied troops to waterboarding; if we could criminalize U.S. troops, who fought in Vietnam, for the same offense, I do not see why we should not do the same to CIA officers in the present case. Being scared does not make the actions right. Goss is wrong.

Ramakrishn Raman, Tucker

Goss was part of the problem

Porter Goss has not-so-cleverly disguised his op-ed piece as a partisan rant. As a congressman, he fully backed whatever means necessary to stop the “bad guys.” With such a willing supporter, no wonder he was appointed to head the CIA. Now it seems that the minority members of Congress were responsible for allowing extreme measures to be used on detainees with unverified success. Goss was part of the circus in Washington keeping the truth from the American people. If we don’t learn from history we’ll surely repeat it. Americans don’t torture captives, period!

John Wilhelm, Stone Mountain

Relations affect security

As long as America’s president continues reaching out to rogue nations’ leaders, threats to America’s security will be within rogue nations’ reach.

Jimmy Reed, Oxford, Miss.

U.S. should help needy

Thank God for John Lewis and his reaction to Darfur (“John Lewis arrested for Darfur protest,” News, April 28). This is exactly what African-American leaders should be doing. This blood bath has gone on far too long, and this is a step in the right direction. It’s time to accept the fact that President Obama is president and quit praising every word he says —- and do something positive to truly help those in need. We should not put our efforts into funding money to Palestine but to helping those who need it in order to live. Palestine has been shooting rockets into Israel on a daily basis and the press only mentions what Israel is doing to Gaza. I am not black nor Israeli but I do believe in being “your brother’s keeper.”

Sandy Patterson, Peachtree City

All types of businesses use entertainment deductions

Professors Soled and Schmalbeck clearly write from the confines of their academic ivory towers and not from the vantage of real world business relations, (“Courtside seats a tax deduction we can live without,” @issue, April 22). The business entertainment deduction is a valuable networking tool for businesses of all sizes.

It is good business to “forge bonds and attract potential and existing clients to purchase the host’s services or products” based on factors like providing friendly, responsive service that goes beyond the showroom or conference room.

Congress (which created the deduction) and the IRS (which enforces it) fully recognize business entertainment expenses are hybrid expenses; that’s why such expenses are only 50 percent deductible.

Finally, there is no support for the professors’ assertion that the business entertainment deduction is “utilized almost exclusively by high-bracket taxpayers.” We are a small family-owned law firm far from the highest tax bracket, and we represent sole proprietors and other small and medium businesses similarly far from the highest tax bracket.

All of us regularly use the business entertainment deduction to get to know our clients and suppliers better, to build invaluable good will among our peers and the business community, and to foster revenue growth.

Sherry Neal and Dan Wright, Neal & Wright LLC

Motivation behind English-only driving test is questionable

English isn’t needed to drive (“English-only test for drivers needed for state road safety,” @issue, April 20). Other countries, especially in Europe, have a relatively large percentage of their drivers not fluent in the national language. Furthermore, Americans often drive in other countries even though they’re not fluent in the local language.

I think there might be other veiled priorities when lawmakers and columnists try to pass English-only legislation. Intolerance is wasteful government and morally reprehensible.

David Eads, Johns Creek